Neologism means introducing a new word or giving fresh senses to existing ones. In its expanded definition, it also involves “a new doctrine, especially a new interpretation of sacred writings” (Dictionary.com).
Language is not a museum; it is a living, breathing entity. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once observed, “Language is a city to the building of which every human being brought a stone.” Every neologism is such a stone, adding to the growing architecture of human thought.
But neologism is not confined to vocabulary alone. It stretches into our rituals, customs, and traditions—especially those rooted in religion—that demand periodic review for their relevance in an ever-changing world culture. As George Bernard Shaw quipped, “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
In the broader context of human progress, the call of humanity seeks to re-evaluate not only religions but also social and political institutions. The Left and Right “isms” that once framed societies may no longer serve us in the same way. Their values and behaviours must evolve, for, as Victor Hugo put it, “An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.”
Neologism, then, is not a mere play of words. It is part of the ongoing resolution and management of our civil society. Just as civilizations rise by invention and fall by rigidity, so too do our collective environments flourish when language, thought, and doctrine remain open to renewal.
In that sense, the development of civilization is not accidental but essential—a rational and intelligent creation, where neologisms light the path forward.
-Promod Puri
promodpuri.com
Promod Puri.com 