Thoothukudi incident is a war between deficiency needs and growth needs
Thoothukudi, is one of the India's major and fastest growing sea port city with a history dating back to the 6th century AD and Emerging Energy and Industrial hub in Tamil Nadu. Most of the people in the city are employed in salt pans, sea-borne trading, fishing, and tourism. According to Confederation of Indian Industry, Thoothukudi has the second highest Human Development Index in Tamil Nadu next to Chennai.Thoothukudi is also known as "Pearl City" due to the pearl fishing carried out in the town. Park.(Reference: Wikipedia ).
The Thoothukudi incident (the protest against Sterlite , 13 people killed by police shot and Tamilnadu government announcement to close the Sterlite chemical factory) has made me to think about what kind of structure we are following to fulfill our needs.. I remember "Maslows Hierarchy Needs" structure when I think about the Thoothukudi incident. Psychologist Maslow stated that people are motivated to achieve their needs, but some needs take more priority than the others. There are 5 stages of needs.
Maslows Hierarchy Needs
Deficiency need
Deficiency need
Stage 1 - Physiological need (air, water, food) -Basic need
Stage 2 - Safety needs (security of body and employment and health)-Basic need
Stage 3 - Social needs (relationship,love, family, friends)
Stage 4 - Ego needs (respect for others and respect by others, identity, dignity)
Stage 2 - Safety needs (security of body and employment and health)-Basic need
Stage 3 - Social needs (relationship,love, family, friends)
Stage 4 - Ego needs (respect for others and respect by others, identity, dignity)
Growth need
Stage 5 - self actualization needs (is a desire to become everything one is capable of becoming)
To me the Thoothukudi incident is a war between Deficiency need and Growth need. Lets see how Maslow's Theory of need correlates with the Thoothukudi incident.
Stage 3 (need of relationship) fulfilled stage 1 (Physiological need)
Correlation of stage 1 (Physiological need) ,stage 2(safety need) and stage 3 (social relationship need) with Thoothukudi Incident
Getting clean air is the first basic need of human for a healthy life. Thoothukudi people got motivated to fulfill their basic need only nothing else. Yes; they wanted not big big things but basic need of clean air. Getting protection (satge 2) is the second need of people. When people physiological need (air, water, food) fulfilled ,then they will look for a safety needs(stage 2).When Thoothukudi people struggle for their 1st need of clean air ,they lost their 2nd need of safety too. Yes; Thoothukudi people lost their both basic needs in the same time. Oh !What a frustrated time it was!
Even though they didn't get the 1st stage and 2nd stage needs, they are very strong in stage 3 (social needs). When they lost their 1st stage and 2nd stage need, they are highly motivated to get social needs.Yes, all Thoothukudi people got united to reach their first stage need of clean air.Moreover All Tamilnadu people have given hand to hand and shoulder to shoulder to each other.All social media worked well to motivate all Indians to support Thoothukudi people. As a result of high power of unity ,Tamil nadu government announced to shut the sterlite. Yes, The stronger relationship made to fulfill their 1st stage of need.In other words fulfillment of 3rd stage (unity) only fulfilled their 1st stage of need. The Indian people from all the countries proved that we are not far by heart .Social media also did the big part to connect all.
Correlation of stage 2 and Thoothukudi incident
The war between stage 1st need and stage 2nd need
All police officers and IAS officers need to listen their higher authorities to secure their jobs. They are highly motivated to secure their jobs rather than securing people. The shot against people is the war between 2nd stage need ( job security) and the people's 1st stage need of clean air. 13 people lost their life security completely in this war .Police officer shot on Snowlin mouth that is the best indication of their job pressure. The police officers are forced by higher authorities.
Correlation of stage 5 of growth need and thoothukudi incident
Growth need is a desire to become everything one is capable of becoming. Higher ruling authorities and the owner of sterlite are highly motivated to reach their higher end of 5th stage need (growth need). They are highly motivated to reach their highest potential in terms of money, fame or designation. Growth is needed in human life but how we are growing is what matter .By banning people's basic need, Higher authorities wanted to reach their growth need. Yes; Thoothukudi incident is not a incident but a war between the deficiency needs and growth needs.
Correlation of stage 4 ego need and thoothukudi incident
Ego need is the need of proving their identity, dignity and getting respect from others
Dignity (stage4) striving people also played main role in this incident. That means some have used this incident to fulfill their stage 4 (need of Ego). In other words,some people wanted to show their identity and seeked popularity from people by this incident.
Correlation of stage 4 ego need and thoothukudi incident
Ego need is the need of proving their identity, dignity and getting respect from others
Dignity (stage4) striving people also played main role in this incident. That means some have used this incident to fulfill their stage 4 (need of Ego). In other words,some people wanted to show their identity and seeked popularity from people by this incident.
I can not say that striving for dignity and growth is not good. Every human being are motivated to move to their next stage need and go to reach higher stage of need. The motivation is good to have but how they are reaching towards those needs matters. When we get motivation to go for a higher stage of need, we must follow moral principles. By demolishing deficiency needed people ,We must not grow. Run, grow but without hurting others. Everyone have the right to jump to higher stage but don't jump on deficiency needed people's life.
Though Thoothukudi incident is the most heart broken war, it taught me to think. As I learned in positive psychology ,we are taking good experience from the bad incidents.
Though Thoothukudi incident is the most heart broken war, it taught me to think. As I learned in positive psychology ,we are taking good experience from the bad incidents.
Time to think
How all people needs are fulfilled in the earth?
How all people needs are fulfilled in the earth?
For an example ,In my view ,Crores of people are struggling to get 1st stage of basic needs of Air ,water, food .Millions of people are struggling for their safety needs .Lakhs of people are struggling to make peaceful social life. Thousands of people are struggling for their ego needs .100's of people struggling to reach their peak value.
.The war between basic need and growth need is everywhere in the world. Some people's higher end success behind lots of people's basic need lacking is there. In 21st century untruth work have named as smart work. But truth alone triumphs. When we work for a right motive in a right way, then we will receive the real success.
In my perception, Thoothukudi incident teach us that run on your own track of life to reach your all stages of needs without beating or hurting others. Politics is good !But politics in physiological needs is not good to have.
My Obligation, You be a stepping stone to others ;don't use basic need people as your standing stone to jump on to your higher stage. Be a leader of public as a servant leader.
Parent corners
Today's kids are tomorrow's officers and ministers .As a parent
- we should teach our kids how to respect other people's need.
- Teach them the value of basic needs.
- Teach them the pain of poverty
- Show them the difference between deficiency and growth
- Teach them the difference between needed items and wished items.
- Teach them real success meaning
Life is marathon only.But run and jump on your track only not on other's!.
