Throughout history, the concept of work has evolved according to the structuring and restructuring of society. In the early period of human history, man hunted for food and gathered material for shelter, after which he enjoyed plenty of leisure time.

In the Neolithic period, when proper human settlements were established and agriculture was introduced, people worked in the fields to cultivate crops. The men worked in the field while women were engaged in domestic work. A new class of artisans also emerged to manufacture tools which were required for agricultural and domestic activities.

With the advancement of society new classes such as warriors and priests emerged. Both these classes were non-productive and relied on the surplus production of society. However, the task of the warriors was to defend the settlement against any invader and protect its people and property. The priests would devote their time and energy to please their gods and goddesses in order to ensure the health of the crops so that agriculture, and the settlement itself, would flourish. During this period, everyone had a task which was fulfilled to serve the society; hence, work became a guarantee for survival.

No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.― Booker T. Washington

However, the character of work changed when the system of slavery was introduced. These slaves were either prisoners of war or those poor people who failed to pay debts to their feudal lords and sold themselves instead. Slaves were engaged to work in mines or employed as domestic servants, and generally performed those tasks that were avoided by other classes of society. The result was that the concept of the dignity of work became diminished due to its association with slaves.

There was no slavery in the society of the subcontinent. Instead, it was the caste system that established a social demarcation by dividing the society into four different classes based on their hereditary professions — the priests, the warriors, the peasants and the servants. A fifth class of ‘the untouchables’ regarded as the out-castes and the lowest on the social scale also existed. They were assigned menial cleaning duties and were not allowed to reside in the cities where they worked. Their settlements were located outside the walled cities.

However, society refused to recognise the importance of their work. They suffered humiliation and insult throughout history. Although Gandhi called them Harijans or the children of God, yet the mere change of name could not alter their status and they continued to belong to the lowest strata of society. Due to the fact that they cleaned dirt and filth, they were considered unclean, undignified and wretched.

In the slave-owning feudal society, rulers and aristocrats had a large number of slaves and servants to work for them. For example, a ruler would have a servant for each and everything that he did in his daily life. One would be in charge of dressing him up, one to serve meals and drinks, another for his weapons, horses and other animals.

The author of Bazm-i-Akhar provides a long list of servants who remained in attendance of the last Mughal ruler in order to fulfil his wishes immediately. Though the dynasty was in decline, the number of slaves nevertheless increased to serve the powerless emperor. The aristocracy also followed the same practice and employed a large staff to serve them day and night. To actually do their own work themselves was considered below their dignity. It is said that some of the ulema never learnt how to write because to them it was the profession of calligraphers and scribes, and to learn something was considered below their status. Therefore, they dictated the text and stamped their seal of approval as a proof of its validity.

In the medieval period, when the Turks arrived in India, they brought new technology such as the manufacturing of paper and new tools for the textile industry which in turn introduced new professions. This raised the standard of living of the artisan classes.

At the same time, the new rulers and the nobility required different kinds of dresses, jewellery, furniture, buildings and weapons which the artisans manufactured and became financially sound. This upset the aristocrats and nobility whose interest was to maintain their high status and keep the artisans socially subordinate to them. The tension between them is depicted in Ziauddin Barani’s Tareekh-i-Feroz Shahi where he criticised the new emerging classes as worthless, mean and uncultured.

When the British ruled in India, the English officers also followed the custom of employing a large number of servants for their comfort. A captain of the British army would have at least 15 servants at his disposal which included the cook, tailor, launderer, gardener, guards and a person to take care of the horses. It is said that the Viceregal Lodge had 3,000 servants for its maintenance.

After partition, we inherited this feudal perception of work in which any kind of labour is considered below one’s dignity and honour. The glimpses of this culture are still visible in both rural and urban areas. Feudal lords have a large number of servants to work for them. In the urban centres, bureaucrats and rich people consider it below their status to work.

A society where work is not respected cannot achieve a dignified place among other nations.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, March 1st, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play