With the decline of feudalism and feudal culture, the industrial revolution transformed the structure of society and also changed the concept of work. Feudal values were replaced by a new, energetic and dynamic cultural tradition. The pride of belonging to a privileged family was no more an automatic right to higher status in society. It was replaced by merit, which subsequently subverted the established and conservative class structure.

It now became possible for an ordinary person to achieve high status in society on the basis of his skill, profession and work.

Ample opportunities were available to a new class of entrepreneurs who were not wealthy but had an innovative and creative mind which broke down the conservative order and introduced new techniques to promote industry.

There were many examples in Europe and America where the poorest and resource-less individuals achieved prominence because of their intellectual capacity and innovative skill. It was now possible for a person to go from rags to riches within a short span of time.

For instance, Andrew Carnegie who was a son of Scottish weaver migrated to America and became a steel industry tycoon. He contributed generously for the promotion of education and founded libraries in the cities. American industrialists supported universities and established research foundations for scholars to work in different academic fields.

We can find similar examples in Europe. The characteristics of these entrepreneurs were that they worked in their factories like other workers and never displayed their wealth, nor spent hard earned money on empty rituals and ceremonies. On the other hand, they contributed funds for libraries, art galleries and music halls. Such progress was possible only in an industrial society, where mobility from one class to another was rapid and based on merit and work.

Without the empowerment of the working class, true societal progress will remain a distant dream

Industrialisation produced a community of workers who were required to know how to handle machinery in a factory. This prerequisite made minimum education for workers essential and arrangements were made to train them in the use of new technical inventions. Factories required healthy workers who could be more productive than malnourished and sickly ones. This led to the introduction of reforms by the government in the health sector.

In the early period of industrialisation, nearly all technical inventions were made by technicians, not scientists. In factories, new professions such as managers, accountants, supervisors and engineers emerged, dividing workers into two classes: white collar workers who were bureaucrats and blue collar workers who were further subdivided into skilled and unskilled. These workers organised trade unions for their rights. On the basis of these organisations they demanded a reduction in their working hours as well as a raise in their salaries. This comradeship created political consciousness among the workers and they played an important role in the democratic system.

In England, the Labour Party emerged from the trade unions of workers whose main objective was to elect representatives for the parliament where they would support legislation for their advantage. The workers’ parties throughout Europe had a deep impact on the democratisation of the society. Fearful of the workers’ power, European governments granted them concessions which raised their living standard and consequently they earned respect in society. No more did work remain a humiliation as it was in the feudal culture but was now considered dignified. It was admired and praised in art and literature as important for the progress of a society.

With industrialisation, many new professions emerged. In the market, where the industrial products were sold, salesmen and salesgirls were trained how to interact with consumers. The art of displaying products in the shops was developed to attract the clients. A new aesthetic taste was developed which led to the creation of fashion and new commodities for daily use.

Industrialisation, however, created an inequality in the society which caused differences between rich and poor. In Europe, the condition of the workers is much improved but in the newly independent countries of the third world, the plight of the workers is deplorable.

In case of Pakistan, we still have dominance of the feudal culture because the process of industrialisation is very slow. As a result, work is still regarded as undignified and humiliating and the working class, despite its struggle, has failed to achieve a respectable status in society.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, March 8th, 2015

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