When we talk about brainwashing, the first thing that comes to mind is that it is a technique used by terrorists and extremists to manipulate the minds  of the people and inject hatred in their minds for the other religious groups or  ethnicities.  Is it the only type of moulding? Are the people with no literary skills become their victims only? Or the educated masses are also victims of some sort of brainwashing.
       The majority of the humanity, somehow, suffers from indoctrination. And, those who are avaricious and megalomaniac, utilize different means to inculcate the minds  of the masses.
      It has always has been important for the ruling class to instigate people to believe in certain illusions. As, it is crucial for them or else, they could, sometimes, face with abdication. For this purpose, the ruling class makes institutions and hires people with outlandish approach, to control the thoughts of the masses. In the ancient times, clerics were used to propagandize the need of loyalty for the monarchy.  In the modern world, although the word brainwashing is spelled out for the terrorist groups,but the developed nations also look at other nations in an absurd way. This is also a form of mind controlling. It is done with the help of institutions and pseudo intellectuals.
      For instance, the slogan of making America great again, that the president of America chants repeatedly, raises questions on the America, claiming to be the most civilized and enlightened nation in the world. The illusion of being an advocate of democracy and the paradoxical loyalty towards their nation, created in the minds of Americans is also a form of proselytizing.
       This makes them think of being a great nation and the rest of the world is looked at with abomination.
       Besides America, other nations like Russia, Britain etc abet hatred in the mind of their people for the contemporary systems of government in the rival countries.
       Another reason behind indoctrination  is, to effectuate certain  purposes. Because, when an avaricious person, or a group of people, are incited to accomplish some preposterous personal or political goals, tend to hire people who are proficient  propagandists. Then, the hirelings, who are instigated to perfidy, use all means to inculcate the common man.
      For instance, when USSR interfered in Afghanistan, the rivalry bloc exploited the religious sentiments of people and were promulgated to such an extent that they contemplated all the communists as atheist. Although, communism is a Socio-economic doctrine,  yet it was confused  with an anti religious ideology.
       Americans did this as they wanted to wreck USSR. Although, there were political motives, but to effectuate it, religion was maneuvered. And, people died fighting for capitalist and communist bloc, considering it as a Holy war. Hence, to perpetrate some outlandish goals, common people are moulded.
      One more  reason behind indoctrination is that the society establishes certain norms and values, based mostly on illusions. And, every individual is asked to acknowledge it. As, the majority of the people are themselves indoctrinated by  phantasm, they pressurize every individual to accept all the dogmas of the society. So, this is how the society as a whole is indoctrinated, due to dogmatic concepts. But, if an individual or a group of individuals refuse the dogmatic approach of the society, they face hazardous consequences. Because, the society doesn't want an individual to escape from the propagandized schemes. If, someone wants to decamp from the dogmas of the society, one need to sacrifice many things and should struggle to bring change in one's own life and in the society as a whole. This is how, the individuals can get away with proselytizing . Or else, the efforts to keep the people ignorant and indoctrinated will keep continued.
       However, the use of cognitive ability to fabricate certain mirages in mind has helped the humans in their survival in the world. For instance, the humans were capable of making tribes and social structures, based on delusion , that enabled them to live together in communities. And Sapiens are the only species that can live in communities. Besides this, to live a prosperous and comfortable life,in their respective ages, humans fabricated different illusive ideas in their minds. Some of that ideas may have become obsolete today but could have helped humans in ancient times. Similarly, there are certain illusive ideas and ideologies in our age as well, helping humans in living a prosperous and peaceful life. But, such types of illusive concepts should be adopted as long as these contribute to the well-being of the people. And, as the humans keep progressing, the concepts of one's own time should be adopted. Keep sticking to the dogmatic ideas, that longer are contribute to the well-being of people,  will become an obstacle in the progress of humans. The political and social ideologies, contributed in human welfare centuries ago, if become obsolete today, that doesn't mean we should be stubborn to implement them. If done so, it may result in bigotry. And, same goes for the present day political and social ideologies. As, these may not be serving the humanity in future anymore. So, it is necessary to assess the ideas, even based on illusions, in order to find out what can serve the humanity in best possible ways. That is how human progress will keep continued.
      In today's world,  the world of scientific knowledge and education, people are still indoctrinated to be loyal to their country, borders, race, caste and nation. And, when the loyalty exceeds, it leads to chauvinism. The sense of superiority in terms of nation, race etc, becomes the cause of abomination. Then,people abhor each other because the institutions that get benefited from this hatred, indoctrinate people with thoughts that lead jingoism.

Writer's Facebook Profile