By Didi Ananda Sadhana
The first time the term Coordinated Cooperation caught my attention was when Shrii PR Sarkar described the relation between men and women being a relation of subordinated cooperation, instead of what it should be: a relation of coordinated cooperation. I will give here a further explanation for these terms based upon the words of Shrii PR Sarkar.
Human beings are social beings, meaning that they cannot meet their needs simply by their own efforts. It is the nature of human beings to act and to work, but their capacity is limited and their time is limited. So, they need the cooperation of others. Shri Sarkar says: “It is always better for people to work together as far as possible – the more that human beings work together, the better it is. If this principle is not followed the spirit of society will be broken, adversely affecting the very existence of human beings. People have to eat food individually – another person cannot eat your food for you – however a meal can be shared collectively. Where individuality dominates human life, the environment, the welfare of different groups and even the continued existence of humanity may be adversely affected.” 1
So, what is a society according to Shrii Sarkar? “Society is the collective movement of a group of individuals who have made a unanimous decision to move together towards a common goal.” “When the members of a society come to a unanimous decision: We’ll move together, we’ll live together in good times or bad, then their collective movement is known as Samaj or society.” 2 In a true society nobody is left behind. When somebody gets sick, loses their job or is homeless on the street, the rest don’t just continue their lives as usual. The collective stops and looks for a solution so everybody can continue their journey collectively. This way we share a collective sense of responsibility for others, versus the collective indifference so common today
He further says: “In every field of collective life there should be cooperation among the members of society. Where this cooperation is between free human beings, each with equal rights and mutual respect for each other, and each working for the welfare of the other, it is called: coordinated cooperation. Where people do something individually or collectively, but keep themselves under other people’s supervision, then it is called: subordinated cooperation. In each and every stratum of life, we should do everything with coordinated cooperation and always avoid subordinated cooperation. There should not be a relation of supervisor and supervised, or master and servant.” 3
Our present socio economic systems as well as patriarchy are based upon subordinated cooperation. They thrive on racism, sexism, the marginalization of different ethnic groups and the exploitation of resources. And this, Shri Sarkar says, “…results in the degeneration of society’s moral fabric.” 4
Diversity is the law of nature. It is the collaboration and cooperation of all the different people, the different cultures, and the different ethnic backgrounds that enriches our human society and guarantees progress and continuity. But our present socio-economic systems do not favor diversity, collaboration and cooperation. By trying to monopolise, homogenise and individualize everything, they take us on the path of self-destruction.
Shri Sarkar adds that so far, humanity has not been able to create a true society and that one of the main reasons is that women have been excluded. They have not been able or allowed to develop and contribute their full potential. There has not been a relation of coordinated cooperation between men and women. He compares the society to a bird with two wings. One wing representing the men, the other representing the women. As one wing was not allowed to grow and to develop itself fully, the bird has not been able to take off and fly. He says that the relation between men and women should be a relation of coordinated cooperation, not that of subordinated cooperation. He says: “We stand to create a powerful, dynamic and upsurging social consciousness, especially among women, so that they are inspired to rise, abolish dogma and annihilate all symbols of slavery, and usher in a new era of coordinated cooperation and glorious achievement. Let women be the vanguard of a new revolution which humanity must achieve for a glorious tomorrow.” 5
Shrii Sarkar makes it clear that for the welfare of all, it is essential that the condition of women improve and that they take their rightful place in society and that a relation of coordinated cooperation between men and women is essential for this. But not only by changing the relation between men and women will things change, also in the workplace this change has to happen. He says that both communism and capitalism have failed society. Capitalism thrives on exploiting and dividing people and in communism, though talks about equality, the relation in the workplace is one of “master and servant”.
Shri Sarkar favors the cooperative system. He says: “PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory) supports the implementation of the cooperative system because its inner spirit is one of coordinated cooperation. Only the cooperative system can ensure the healthy, integrated progress of humanity, and establish complete and everlasting unity among the human race. People should work to enjoy sweeter fruits by establishing the cooperative system…The cooperative system is the best representation of the sweet nectar of humanity.” 6
Coordinated cooperation brings out the best in human beings. When each person, culture or nation is respected, valued and loved for who they are and for their unique contribution to the collective, it brings out the best in all of us. It is the perfect balance between the need for individual expression and recognition, plus the need to move as a collective. While the western cultures give extreme importance to individuality and make people more and more ego centric who are not willing to make any sacrifice for the greater welfare, eastern cultures put much emphasis on family and collectiveness, often at the expense of individual expression. Coordinated cooperation brings out the true spirit of Neohumanism.
1 Cooperatives, 18 February 1988, Calcutta
Published in: Prout in a Nutshell Volume 3 Part 14 [a compilation], Proutist Economics [a compilation]
2 The Importance of Society 8 December 1978, Calcutta
Published in: A Few Problems Solved Part 3, Prout in a Nutshell Volume 3 Part 13 [a compilation]
3 Cooperatives, 18 February 1988, Calcutta
Published in: Prout in a Nutshell Volume 3 Part 14 [a compilation], Proutist Economics [a compilation]
4 Cooperatives, 18 February 1988, Calcutta
Published in:Prout in a Nutshell Volume 3 Part 14 [a compilation], Proutist Economics [a compilation]
5 Women’s Rights, 20 April 1981, Calcutta
Published in: A Few Problems Solved Part 9, The Awakening of Women [a compilation], Prout in a Nutshell Volume 3 Part 13 [a compilation]
Universal Humanism [a compilation]
6 Cooperatives, 18 February 1988, Calcutta
Published in: Prout in a Nutshell Volume 3 Part 14 [a compilation], Proutist Economics [a compilation]