Prarthana Samaj was established in the 19th century for furtherance of the society through self furtherance. The motto of Pune Prarthana Samaj : ” Humanize, Equalize, Spiritualize ” is recently registered in the form of a logo.

What is the significance of these three terms and the sequence in which these appear here?

We are all humans. The term humanity means behaviour of humans with humans like humans. It implies that the behaviour of any human toward other human will be considered as inhuman if it is like behaviour toward an animal.

How do humans behave with other living beings? Leave aside the ill intentioned behaviour. How do well intentioned humans treat other living beings? Think of animals harnessed for farming, milking, transport, food, recreation and for fulfilling many more needs of humans. Think of birds and insects, think of plants and trees. While making use of these living beings don’t humans use actions such as beating, hitting, cutting, crushing, nailing, killing and so on? Think of those living beings subjected to these actions. Would they be enjoying this behaviour of humans toward them?

Humans have been exploiting the other living world for their own benefit by behaving inhumanly with them. But what is more unfortunate is that many a times humans are found to be inhuman toward other humans! Open the newspaper, and we come across many such incidences every day.

The first step to achieve the furtherance of the society is, therefore, Humanize. We have to first humanize ourselves. In all our deeds, we have to learn to behave with other humans, may be from any age group or section of the society, like humans, not inhumanly; prevent, protest and obstruct the inhuman actions in human way.

As the first step on our path of self furtherance we have to humanize ourselves!