Back to Agriculture Rammanohar...

JANATA, March 20-27, 2011 Remembering Dr. Lohia 1

Vol. 66 No. 8-9March 20-27, 2011

Guest Editors :Anand Kumar

Qurban Ali

Editor:G.G.Parikh

D-15,Ganesh Prasad, Naushir BharuchaMarg,Mumbai - 400 007.

Email : [email protected]

Established 1946Established 1946Established 1946Established 1946Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 65 Nos. 41January 23, 2011

Editor :G. G. Parikh

D-15, Ganesh Prasad,Naushir Bharucha Marg,

Mumbai - 400 007.

Email : [email protected]

Back to AgricultureThere is little to be excited about the conclusions of the deliberations of

the high level meeting that discussed the steps to be taken to control theprices of food grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs etc. Nothing new cameout, all the old steps taken recourse to in the past were repeated. The onlything a bit new was setting up of an inter ministerial group (IMG) underKaushik Basu, the chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. Perhapsthe IMG, if it functions seriously, will tell us, the government, when to banexports and when to import the items that are scarce and also identify thesteps that are necessary to mitigate the situation and the steps will be takena bit early or in time. Not a great advance. A little reflection will tell us thatwhat is happening is the result of a long term neglect of our agriculture. Itstarted early in our history. Barring the first plan when we took a few stepsto augment our agricultural production, in our anxiety to imitate the westernmodel of development, we neglected – deliberately - agriculture. Were wenot told that for industrialization, some sector has to sacrifice and that sectorwas agriculture. If this neglect started early, it became worse with thereforms – neo-liberal policies. In the past twenty years, we have onlycompounded the folly. It was not that that there were no voices to warn us,to tell us, that we should do something for agriculture, but we ignored these.The flurry of activities that was seen in the mid-sixties to free ourselves ofthe ship to mouth existence, did not become our guide for the future. Perhaps,we deluded ourselves into believing that we can always import what is inshort supply as other countries will have enough to help us along. Thoughthis thinking was proved wrong again and again, we learnt no lessons. Wesingle-mindedly pursued growth, growth which benefited only the rich, andhoped that the new prosperity will somehow help us tide over such temporarysetbacks. It hasn’t worked out that way. The entire growth strategy iscoming unstuck and yet we are bent upon following the failed path. No onein power is likely to believe, if you say that a disaster awaits us if we stickto this growth path. But there are a whole lot of alternatives that can saveus from the disaster.

Coming back to agriculture, the first thing we should underscore is thatwe can neglect agriculture at our peril. In a country like ours there is noother fate possible. Then we should also underscore that we should look atany given problem in a holistic manner. To discuss agriculture without its

Unbreakable StrangleholdS. Viswam

Blasphemy LawAsghar Ali Engineer

Tony Blair’s New LabourD.K. Giri

Satyagraha for RTE and AfterBhai Vaidya

K.G. Kannabiran, 1929-2010Menaka Guruswamy

Agriculture our culture!Sankara Narayanan

Price : Rupees Twenty

Rammanohar Lohia

March23,1910-October12,1967

Basic Ideas of Dr. Lohia : Selected Writings

Some Historical Letters

Some Documents and

Debates


Remembering Dr. Lohia

Janata family feels proud to publish this specialnumber tomark the birth centenary of one of itsfoundersDr.RammanoharLohia(23rdMarch1910-12October 1967).Gandhian Socialist,Dr. Lohia,wasoneofthefoundersofIndiansocialistmovementwhogavedynamism to socialist thought and actionbeyondthedoctrinesofMarxistandFabianschools.Hepropounded a newphilosophyof humanhistory(Itihas Chakra) andintegratedprogrammeofsevenrevolutions(Sapta Kranti).Hepreachedandpracticednon-violentmilitantactionthroughcivildisobedience.Hewasimprisoned24timesinafourdecadelongpubliclifeincludingarrestbythegovernmentsofBritishIndia,Portugal,Belgium,Nepal,post-colonialIndiaandtheUSA.Healsoperfectedthepowerofballotandartofparliamentarypoliticsforsocialistcauseandacceleratedpoliticsforchangethroughthenationalelectionsfrom1952to1967.Hiscontributionasparliamentarianhasbeenpublishedinsixteenvolumesas‘Lok Sabha Main Lohia’(LohiainLokSabha)thoughhewasamemberofLokSabhaforjustfouryears.

Lohia presented a newmethodology beyondthe dichotomy of ballot or bullet through a threedimensional approach to create peoples’ power forsocialist transformation in theworld by judiciouscombination of vote, jail (Satyagraha) and spade(constructiveworks).Histheoryofsocialchangeformaking a betterworld beyond poverty, exploitationand inequalities recommended the programme of‘preferential opportunities’ for the backward anddepressed sections of societies and such regions ofthemodernworld system.Hewanted educationalopportunitiesforallwithoutanydifferenceofcasteandgenderbutpreferentialopportunitiesforthebackwardsectionsinthefieldsofjobs,leadershipandpubliclife.Hewasagreatadvocateofuseofpeople’slanguagesintheaffairsofstateandculture.Heconsidereduseof English language in offices, courts,media andlegislaturesasperpetuationofmentalslaveryanddenialof democratic rights to commonpeople. It resultedintoaneworientationaboutthechallengeofcreatingacastelessandclasslesssocietysinceIndependence.He contributed towards political awakening amongpeasants,workers, students, intellectuals aswell aswomen, the backward classes, and othermarginalgroups.

Lohia’s interpretation of Indian icons,myths andtraditionsattractedcreativewriters,artistsandthinkersforfreshthinking.Hisgeniuswasdemonstratedinhis

4 Remembering Dr. Lohia JANATA, March 20-27, 2011

commentariesaboutRam-Krishna-Shiva,DraupadiandSavitri,Indianarchitecture,languagesandscriptsandhistorywriting anduniversity research.HebelievedincivilizationalunityofthepeopleofIndiaaswellascommondestinyofthepeopleoftheworld.

HefeltbetrayedanddemoralizedbythepartitionofIndiaandcriticizedtheleadershipofIndianNationalMovementforbeingunabletopreventthecommunalbloodbathbetweenfrenziedmobsofHindus,Muslims,Sikhsandothersandremainedrelentlesscampaignerforhealingthewoundscausedbythefracturesandrupturesinthenameofreligionandculture.

Hewas confident that there is no turning awayfromthequestforfreedom,democracy,justice,peaceand cooperation after the defeat of imperialism andcolonialism.Herejectedtheclaimthattheworldhasto choose between themodels of Ford (capitalism)andStalin (Soviet communism).Because bothwereproductsofEurocentricity,capitalintensivebigmachineandgreedbasedeconomicforceswhichwereirrelevantforpeopleofAsia,AfricaandLatinAmerica.Hewasaproponentofsmallscaleintermediatetechnologyanddecentralized state based communitarian democracyandworld government.His inspiring speeches andwritings are collected in nine volumes inHindi andninevolumesinEnglish.

Rammanohar Lohia died early at the age of 57years.But his legacyhas continued in the political,intellectualandculturalspheresofpeople’slives.Heis remembered as one of themost original thinkersandmostdedicatedmassleaderswhogavehisallforthe causeof freedomand socialism.Therehasbeencelebration of his birth centenary fromBanaras toBerlinthroughseminars,conferences,publications,andworkshopsbyavarietyofindividuals,organizations,institutionsandmovements.Wehopethatthisspecialnumber of Janata will be one of thememorablepublicationsinhonourofoneofourgreatesticonswhomotivatedmillionsofmenandwomentogetconfidenceforfightagainstinjusticesinpersonalandpubliclifeandtoworktogetherforabetterworldbeyondhunger,humiliation,violence,dominationandwar.WededicatethisissuetothememoryofSocialistthinkerandformerEditorofJanata,LateSurendraMohan.ItwashisideathatJanatashouldpublishaspecialissuetomarkthebirth centenary ofDr.RammanoharLohia.HewasalsoinstrumentalforrunningtheLohiabirthcentenarycelebrationsforalmosttwoyears.

Anand KumarQurban Ali

Content

Basic Ideas of Lohia : Selected Writings ILosttheA.I.C.C...................................................11OppositiontoGandhiji...........................................12Fifteen-PointNoteonCongressandTheSocialistParty.................................................16LohiaOutlinesTheGoalofSocialists...................18LohiaDrawsPictureofSocialistRegime..............19AcharyaNarendraDeva’sDefeat..........................20KhojParishad.........................................................20ProgrammetoEndPoverty....................................22TheWilltoPower..................................................24PreferentialRightsforWomen..............................27Caste.......................................................................28PrinciplesofParliamentaryBehaviour..................40India,ChinaandOurBorders................................43TheIssueofSkinColour.......................................44OnHiddenImperialisms........................................49RevolutionArrested...............................................51UPSCExamination................................................58EliteandExpenditure.............................................59AugustRevolution:TwentyfifthAnniversary........60TobeSomebody....................................................61

Some Historical Letters to:Prof.H.J.Laski......................................................65AcharyaJ.B.Kripalani...........................................68JayaprakashNarayan.............................................69Dr.BRAmbedkar..................................................70RavelaSomayya.....................................................71

Some Documents and DebatesNon-Violence—TheOnlySalvation......................72History,HistoriansandHistoriography.................73Excerptsfromtheinterviewwith Prof.PaulBrass..............................................80


Gandhiansocialist,visionaryrebel,manofletters,greatparliamentarianandcrusaderforthebettermentof the poor and downtrodden of the country,Dr.RammanoharLohiawasbornonMarch23,1910inAkbarpurinFaizabaddistrictofUttarPradeshinaMarwariVaishyacommunity.Lohia’sfather,HeeraLal,was a nationalist by spirit and a teacher andbusinessmanbyprofession.Thefamilygotsurname‘Lohia’ for doing business of ‘Loha’ (hardware).Hismother,Chanda, diedwhenRammanoharwasvery young. Lohiawas introduced to the IndianIndependenceMovementatanearlyagebyhisfatherthrough various protest assemblies.HeeraLal, anardent follower ofMahatmaGandhi, took his sonalongonameetingwiththeMahatma.Thismeetingdeeply influencedLohia and sustained himduringtryingcircumstancesandhelpedseedhisthoughts,actionsandloveforSwaraj.LohiawassoimpressedbyGandhiji’sspiritualpowerandradiantself-controlthathepledgedtofollowintheMahatma’sfootsteps.He proved his allegiance to Gandhi, andmoreimportantlytothemovementasawhole,byjoininga‘satyagraha’marchattheageoften.LohiaattendedIndianNationalCongress’plenarysessionin1923atGayaandthe1926sessionatGuwahati.

Lohia received his early education atTandonPathshala andVisheshwarNathHigh School inAkbarpur.Healwaystoppedinhisclassandremainedfavoriteofhisteachers.AfterhisfathershiftedfromAkbarpur toBombay, he continued his studies atMarwariSchoolthereandpassedtheMatriculationexamination in the first division in 1925. HisIntermediateeducationtookplaceatBanarasHinduUniversity and after a two-year course there, hejoinedtheVidyasagarCollegeinCalcutta.In1929hepassedhisB.A.Honorsexamination inEnglishLiterature.Eveninhisstudentdayshewasattractedtowardspoliticalagitation.HewenttoGermanyforhigher studies.Lohiawrote his doctoral thesis on‘TheTaxationofSaltinIndia’(withspecialreferencetoGandhiji’sSaltSatyagraha).HewasawardedtheDoctorateinEconomicsandPoliticalScience.

LohiajoinedtheIndianNationalCongressassoonashe returned to India in1933. In1934he joined

Dr Rammanohar Lohia: A ProfileQurban Ali

the group ofAcharyaNarendraDev, JayaprakashNarayan,YusufMeherally,Achyut Patwardhan,AsokaMehta,PurshottamTricumdasandKamaladeviChattopadhyayaandbecamea foundermemberoftheCongressSocialist Party.These pepole dreamtofbuildinganationforthetoilingmillions,withthepartydeclaringsocialismasitsobjective,andstatedthatMarxismalonecouldguidetheanti-imperialisticforcestotheirdestinyandemphasizedtheneedfordemocratizing the organizational structure of theCongress.

In1936,LohiawaselectedamemberoftheAllIndiaCongressCommittee.YoungLohiawasmadetheSecretaryoftheForeignAffairsDepartmentoftheAICC, the same year under the leadership ofPt.JawaharlalNehru.Heheldthatofficetill1938.AsForeignSecretary of theCongress, LohiawasinstrumentalinlayingthefoundationsoftheforeignpolicyofIndia.Hewasincontactwiththefreedommovements, thengoingonindifferentpartsof theworldanddevelopedcloserelationswithprogressiveorganizationsinAsia,AfricaandLatinAmerica.Hehadwrittenapamphlet“TheForeignPoliciesoftheIndianNationalCongress and theBritishLabourParty”whichwasdescribedasa“workofoutstandingmerit” by Pandit Nehru.He had also drawn theattentionoftheworldtowardsthesuppressionofcivillibertiesinIndiaandothercountries.

Lohiawasarrested,forthefirsttime,formakinganti-government speeches on 24thMay 1939 bytheBritishGovernment inCalcuttaon thechargesofseditionbutwasreleasedbyauthoritiestheverynext day fearing a youth uprising.He traveled allover the country and drew youngmen into thefreedommovement.DuringtheSecondWorldWar,hesupportedtheviewthatIndiashouldnotextendanysupporttotheBritishanditsalliesandadvocatedcompletenon-cooperation.HesaidthesupplyofmenandmoneytothethenGovernmentshouldberefused.WhenAICCpassedaresolutionin1939supportingtheBritain in thewareffort,Lohiaopposed itandwroteanarticle“DownwithArmaments”.Hewasarrested formaking anti-war speeches in 1940.


Soonafterhisrelease,Lohiawroteanarticlecalled“SatyagrahaNow”inGandhiji’snewspaper,Harijan,onJune1,1940.Withinsixdaysofthepublicationof the article, hewas re-arrested and sentencedto two years of jail.Announcing his sentence theMagistratesaid,“He(Lohia)isatop-classscholar,civilized gentleman, has liberal ideology and highmoralcharacter.”

GandhiandtheIndianNationalCongresslaunchedthe Quit India movement in 1942. Prominentleaders,includingGandhi,SardarVallabhbhaiPatel,JawaharlalNehru andMaulanaAzad,were jailed.The“secondarycadre”steppeduptothechallengeto continue the struggle and to keep theflame forSwarajburningwithinthepeople’shearts.Theleaderswhowerestillfreecarriedouttheiroperationsfromunderground.DrLohiaplayedasignificantrole inthemovementanddirecteditsactivities,remainingunderground for nearly twoyears.He printed anddistributedmanyposters,pamphletsandbulletinsonthethemeof“DoorDie”throughhissecretprintingpress.Lohia,alongwithfreedomfighterUshaMehta,establishedaradiostationcalledCongressRadioandbroadcastmessagesinBombayfromasecretplaceforthreemonthsbeforedetection.AsameasuretogivethedisarrayedIndianpopulationasenseofhopeand spirit in the absence of their leaders.He alsoedited Inquilab (Revolution), aCongressmonthlyalongwithArunaAsafAli. Lohia thenwent toCalcuttatorevivethemovementthere.Heutilizedthe time bywriting inspiring booklets, pamphletsandarticleslike“HowtoestablishanIndependentGovernment?”,“Iamfree”,“PrepareforRevolution”,and“BraveFightersMarchForward”.Healsowroteascholarlyarticle“EconomicsafterMarx”whilehewasunderground.

Hechangedhisnametohidefromthepolicewhowereclosinginonhim.LohiafledtoNepal’sdensejungles toevade theBritishpoliceandwasfinallyarrested on 20May 1944, inBombay.LohiawastakentoanotoriousprisoninLahore.Intheprisonheunderwentextremetorture.Hishealthdeterioratedbuthiscourageandwillpowerremainedunbrokenthroughouttheordeal.WhileDrLohiawasinprison,GandhijitoldameetingofCongressCommittee,“IcannotsitquietaslongasDr.RammanoharLohiaisinprison.Idonotyetknowapersonbraverandsimpler

thanhim.Heneverpropagatedviolence.Whateverhehasdonehasincreasedhisesteemandhishonor.”UnderGandhiji’spressuretheGovernmentreleasedhimon11April1946fromAgraJail.

Afterhisrelease,LohiadecidedtovisitafriendinGoatorelaxforawhile.Hewasalarmedtolearnthat thePortuguesegovernmenthadcircumscribedpeople’sfreedomofspeechandassembly.Hedecidedto deliver a speech to oppose Portuguese policybutwasarrestedbeforehecouldreachthemeetinglocation.ThePortuguese government relented andallowedthepeopletherighttoassemble.TheGoanpeopleweavedthetaleofLohia’sworkforGoaintheirfolksongs.

DrLohiawas arrested asmany as 25 times forparticipation in freedommovementsof India,GoaandNepalandcivildisobediencemovementsinfreeIndiaandAmerica.

As India’s tryst with freedom neared,Hindu-Muslim strife increased. Lohia strongly opposedpartitioningofIndiainhisspeechesandwritings.Heappealedtoallthecommunitiesinriottornregionstostayunited,ignoretheviolencesurroundingthemandsticktoGandhiji’sidealsofnon-violence.

The Socialist PartyIn February 1947Congress Socialist Partywas

transformed into Socialist Party at its KanpurConferenceundertheChairmanshipofDrLohiabyremovingtheword‘Congress’fromthenameoftheparty.

OnAugust15,1947,Indiabecamefree.Butthenitwasdivided.Lohiawasunhappyonthisaccount.Gandhiwasmurderedonthe30thofJanuary1948.Thecommunalvirusspreadalloverthecountry.TheSocialistPartywasnothappywiththewayinwhichtheCongress leaders dealtwith the situation.TheSocialistPartydecidedtobringtogetherthepeasants,thefactoryworkersandtheworkingmiddleclass.InMarch,1948SocialistslefttheCongress.OneofthetopleadersofthepartywasLohia.

Thereafter Lohia toured the whole country.He strongly criticized the policies of theNehruGovernment.InhisinimitablestylehearguedinfavorofthestandandthepoliciesoftheSocialistParty.He


stoletheheartsoftheyouthofthecountry.

The Praja Socialist PartyThefirstGeneralElectionsinfreeIndiawereheld

in 1952.TheSocialist partyfielded candidates alloverthecountry.DrLohiadidnotcontest.HetouredalloverthecountrytoexplaintheaimsofthepartyandaddressedhundredsofpublicmeetingsbuttheelectiondidnotbringmuchsuccesstotheSocialistParty.

OnthefirstJanuary1954,SocialistPartyandtheKisanMazdoor Praja Party founded byAcharyaKripalanimerged.ThenewpartywasnamedPrajaSocialist Party (PSP).AcharyaKripalani becamethePresidentofthepartyandDrLohiaitsGeneralSecretary.

During this period, the PSPwas in power inTravancoreandCochin,theerstwhileprincelystate(which latermerged to form the state ofKerala).PattamThanuPillaiwas theChiefMinisterof thestate.Oncetherewasanagitationbyestateworkers.TheGovernmentresortedtofiring.Lohiacouldnotcondone this action of the government headed byhisownparty.Hiscontentionwasthatthepeople’spartyhadnorighttomisuseitspowersandunleashrepressionagainstitsownpeople.Hedemandedthatthe PSPGovernment should resign immediately.Manyleadersinthepartydidnotwanttoaccepthisstand.ButLohiadidnotbudge.Finallyin1955,thePrajaSocialistPartytookdisciplinaryactionagainstLohia andhewas compelled to leave theparty ofwhichhewasoneofthefounders.

In the field of social revolution Lohiawas agalvanizingpersonality.Vastnumbersofyoungmenandwomenwere attracted to hiswayof thinking.TheyresentedthedisciplinaryactionagainstLohia.TheideaofrebuildingtheerstwhileSocialistPartybegan to take shape. In 1955, towards the end ofDecember,theLohiaiteSocialistsmetinHyderabadtoexchangeviewsandatlasttheSocialistPartywasrebornundertheChairmanshipofDrLohia.Itwasthemidnightofthe31stofDecember1955.TheCityofHyderabadwitnessedatorchlightprocessionwhichsymbolizedthebirthofthenewparty.

Agreatthinker,DrLohiabelievedintheideologyofdemocraticsocialismandalwaysstoodforpower

to theelected representativeof thepeople throughparliamentarysystemandatthesametimesupportedthenon-violentdirectactionagainsteveryformofinjustice.Hiscreativemindhadagreatfascinationfornewideasandhespurnedthedoctrinaireapproachto social, political, economic and ideologicalproblems.A relentless fighter against injustice, heferventlypleadedforsocialequalityandpreferentialopportunityforthesociallyoppressedsectionsofthesocietytoenablethemtoovercometheircenturies-oldsufferings.TheSocialistPartychalkedoutaspecificprogramme.Lohiawastheauthorofthisprogramme.Heexplainedthefundamentalaimsofthepartyandclarifieditspracticalapproach.

More than half of our population compriseswomen.Theirconditionispathetic.Cookingfood,breedingchildrenandbeingaslavetoherhusband-thisiswoman’sfate.Lohiastroveforhercause.Awomanisnotconsideredequaltoaman,suchistheblindbeliefsustainedthroughtheages.Thelawhasguaranteed equality towomen, but that is onlyonpaper.Equalityhasnotbeenpracticed.Accordingtohimtheemancipationofwomenwasthefoundationof social revolution;without this there can be noprosperity.Hencejobsmustbereservedforwomeninallwalksoflife.Theymustbefreedfromthetyrannyofhomework.Thelatenttalentofwomenshouldbebroughttothelimelight.Societydoesnotprogressaslongaswomenremainoppressed.Societymustberidofdeep-rootedbeliefsandoldpractices.Justiceforwomenshouldbeginfromvillages.

Menshouldnothateoneanotherbecauseofthecoloroftheskin.Racialhatredistreacherytomankind.Allmenareequal.Lohiawasafirmadherentofthisideology.ThiswaswhyLohiastaged‘Satyagraha’inanepisodeinvolvingracialistprejudiceinarestaurantinJackson,atowninAmerica.Hewasarrestedatthattime.Inhislifespanof57yearsRammanoharLohiasufferedimprisonmentmorethantwentytimes.ThegovernmentoffreeIndiaimprisonedhimmorethanfifteentimes.Asastaunchbelieverin‘Satyagraha’hefeltitwashisdutytofightinjustice,whetheritwasonasmallscaleorabigscale.

Lohianeverhad faith inviolence.Bynature aswell as training, hewas nonviolent.He abhorreddestructivetendencies.Heneverlostpatience.Timeandagainhemadeitclearthatnonviolencewasnot


afacadeforcowardice.ItisourtraditionasIndianstoremaingentleforacenturyandthantopouncelikeatigerinamatterofseconds.Headvisedpeopletoholdtheirheadsalwayshighlikehumanbeings.Hepracticedwhathepreached.Heneverbowedtoanyforceonearth.HismaincontributiontotheIndianpolitywastheincorporationoftheGandhianideasinthesocialistthought.Afirmbelieverin‘ChaukhambaRaj’ (decentralizedgovernance)Lohia stressed theneedofsettingupofcottageindustriesandthesmallmachineswithminimumcapitalinvestmentswheremaximummanpowermaybeused.

“Ipreferthespadetothethrone”saidLohia.Weshouldbuildupournation.Ourcountryhasahugepopulation.“Wedonothavebigmachinery.Butwehaveplentyofmanpower.Hencewemustutilizeittothefullestextent.Thatwillbepossibleonlyifeveryonewieldsthespade.Ifeveryhealthypersondonatesanhour’slaboradaytothecauseofthenation,ourcountrywillsoonberich”.Inhislifethespadeandtheprisonwerelikethetwosidesofacoin.

Lohiawaswellawareof the fact thatpeopleofthe country live in villages.He therefore, becamethesymbolof theaspirationsof thepoorpeasants,thelandlessandagriculturallabourers.HeinitiatedmanyKisanmarchesandstrugglesrightfrom1947andestablishedHindKisanPanchayatin1950.

As ParliamentarianLohia contested the 1962General Elections to

theLokSabha fromPhulpurconstituency inUttarPradesh. His rival was the then PrimeMinisterJawaharlalNehru.Lohialosttheelection.Butsuchwas his courage that hewould challenge even themightiestmenoftheland.

InMay 1963 there was a bye-lection fromFarrukhabad constituency inUttar Pradesh.Lohiacontestedandwon,andenteredtheLokSabha.Itwashisdesire that theLokSabhashouldmirrorpublicopinion.Hismaidenspeechwashistoric.Thedailyincomeoftwenty-sevencrorepeopleofthiscountryisameagertwenty-onepaisa,declaredLohiaintheLokSabha,totheutterastonishmentofgovernmentspokesmen.Hisargumentsinwhathascometobeknown as the ‘Three annas versus fifteen annas’

debatewere an eye opener for the people of thiscountry.LohiaassertedthatthethenGovernment’sviewthataverageincomeofapersoninthecountrywasfifteenannaswasmisleadingandfalse.Heprovedwith facts andfigures thatbetween16 to18crorepeoplewere surviving on a daily earning of threeandahalfannas.Hearguedthattoppriorityshouldbegiventotheimprovementoftheconditionofsuchpoorpeople.EveryonewasastonishedwhenLohiadisclosed that this poor country spent asmuch astwenty-fivethousandrupeesadayonthesecurityofthePrimeMinister.Lohiawroteabookelaboratinghisstatements.Hewasof theopinion thatpopularleaders should not alienate themselves from thecommonman.

A dedicated parliamentarian, Lohia took keeninterest in thebusinessof theLokSabha.Heusedto come fully prepared for parliamentary debatesanddiscussions.HisspeechesgavenewturnstotheIndianpolity andprovided fresh food for thought.Whether itwas thepolicyofnon-alignmentor theissue of corruption in the country, he always tookthegovernmentof theday to task.HepointedouttheweaknessesoftheGovernmentpoliciesthroughhisspeechesintheHouse.WhetheritwasthePrimeMinister or any otherMinister, he spared none.Wheneverhefoundanyirregularityoranyinjusticebeing done, ever vigilant that hewas hewouldpromptly raise the issue.Thefirst time that IndianParliamentdiscussedaresolutionofnoconfidenceagainstanygovernmentwasonlyafterLohia’sentryintoParliament.

Experiment of N0n-Congressism In 1963 he propounded the strategy of Non-

Congressism.HewasoftheopinionthatinpastthreegeneralelectionstheCongresswonwiththumpingmajorityandtherewasafeelingamongthemassesthatCongresscannotbedefeatedandhascometostayinpowerforever.LohiainvitedalltheoppositionpartiestofieldasinglecandidateagainsttheCongressnomineessothatthatillusioncouldberemovedfromthethinkingofthemasses.ThisformulaofDrLohiaprovedhugelysuccessfulin1967Generalelectionsand in nine states Congress partywas defeatedandCoalitionGovernmentswere formed by theoppositionparties.


Versatile Genius of Rare CourageLohiawas a versatile genius.He had a sharp

intellect.Hewieldedasharppenandhewasaveryeffectiveandpersuasivespeaker.Whileaddressingpublic gatherings he always spoke inHindi.Hisspeechusedtobetranslatedintothelanguageoftheregion.HeknewEnglish,GermanandFrenchverywell.Hewas alsoproficient inBengali.Hewas amanof incisive logic.Oncehechosea subjecthewouldmakeathoroughstudyofit.Hehadspecialloveforeconomics.Andnoonecoulddeceivehimwithmerestatistics.

SuchwashislifethatLohiabecameanothernamefor fearlessness.Both during theBritish rule andin free India he expressed his opinions fearlessly.Hisyardsticktojudgeanyideaorplanwasalwaysthe same - does it help the down-trodden and thepoor?Hisscholarshipwasamazing.Hewasamanof independentworldview.Fromtime immemorialtherehasbeenagulfbetweenprofessionandpracticeinIndia.Lohiastressedtheneedtobridgethisgapbetweenwordanddeed.

As a WriterLohiawasaprolificwriter.Hisideaswereoriginal

and always created awareness among themasses.Duringthefreedomstruggleheshowedthewayoffreedomtothepeoplethroughhiswritingsandleftanever-lasting impressionofhis thoughtson theirminds.Hewrotequiteanumberofbooks:

India on China, The Struggle for Civil Liberties, Indian outside India, Congress and War, Rebel must advance, Mystery of Sir Stafford Cripps, Third camp in World Affairs, On the Move, Our Choice: Two Speeches, Programme to End Poverty, Twentieth Russian Congress, Himalyan Policy For India, Aspects of Socialist Party, Fragments of a World Mind, Fundamentals of a World Mind, Indian Foreign Policy, Guilty Men of India’s Partition, Will to Power, Wheel of History, Marx, Gandhi and Socialism, Interval during Politics, The Caste System, A Policy for the War and Peace in the Himalayas, Aspects of Socialist Policy, Goa Pamphlets, Action in Goa, Language, The Indian Agriculture, Socialism, Hinduism, India and Pakistan, Indian Communist, Presidential Address to

the Special Convention of the Socialist Party, Pachmarhi (MP) 1952, Presidential Address to the Foundation Conference of the Socialist Party, Hyderabad, 1955.

HeeditedCongress SocialistajournalofCongressSocialistParty,1936-38andstartedMankind,EnglishmonthlyfromHyderabadin1956,whichvoicedhisviews.HealsostartedJanaaHindimonthly.

Champion of Civil LibertiesDrLohia,participatedinanumberofmovements,

such asGoa (1946),Nepal (1949),Against hikein irrigation rates in UP (1954), Restoration ofAssembly inManipur (1955), Entry in NEFAwithoutpermit(1958,1959,1963).Inprotestagainstracial discrimination in theUSA (1964) andRunnofKutch‘Satyagraha’(1965).Inthesemovements,hewas arrested and in someof the cases hefiledhabeas corpus against his arrest.During peasantmovementagainsthikeinirrigationratesin1954inUP,hearguedagainsthisarrest,on4thJuly1954atFarrukhabad,underthespecialpowersactandwonthecaseinAllahabadHighCourt.Similarly,in1966hefiledhabeascorpusintheSupremeCourtagainsthisdetentioninPatnaon9thAugust1965-itwasalsodeclaredillegal.

DrLohialedthepeasant’smovementinKagodu,districtShimogainKarnatakaalso.LohiasatthroughthewholenightalongwithhisjailmatesinthepolicelockupinSagar.ThenextmorninghewasbroughttotheShimogajailalongwithotherleaders.Therewerealreadyquiteafewsatyagrahisinthejail.Thatevening Lohiawas taken to Bangalore and keptin confinement in theGovernmentHouse.Whenanappealwasmade to theHighCourt,Lohiawasreleased.WhileintheShimogajail,theinmateswerenotbeinggivenenoughfood.Thefoodgiventothemsufficedonlyforonemealaday.Thesatygrahishadtodependonthefoodsentfromoutsidebysupporters.Lohiawasdeeplymovedatthisstateofaffairs.Buthehadlittlemoneywithhim.Hehadhardlythirty-two rupees in his purse.When the police officialscametotakehimtoBangalore,Lohiahandedovertohis jailmatesall themoneyhehad.“Pleasegetsomefoodwiththismoneyanddistributeitamongthe satyagrahis” he said.His friends tried hard todissuadehim,butinvain.


He participated in all the agitations of thedowntroddenthroughoutthecountry.Hewasinthevanguardineveryfightfortheworkingclassagainstallformsofinjustice.Hehadnotonlypityforthecommonmanbutrespectaswell.Forfivethousandyearsnoonehadknownwhetherthecommonmanwasaliveordeadinthisland.Hispersonalityshouldblossomandhemustgrowintoanewman.Lohiatoiledanddiedforthecauseofthecommonman.

Lohia always stood for the anti-imperialist andanti-colonialrevolutions.Hehaddeepsympathyforthe equal rightsmovement launched byAmericanBlacksandalsoparticipatedinitin1964.InAmericahe was refused entry into a restaurant andwasarrestedwhenheinsistedonenteringit.ButhewassetfreeimmediatelywithagraciousapologyfromtheAmericanGovernment.

As an untiring champion of social equality, hedeplored the caste system and the hierarchicalorder based on birth and considered it the singlemost important factor for decline of the nationand its repeated subjection to external aggressionand foreign rule. He launched “destroy caste”movementanddeclaredthatinatraditionallyunequalsociety,equalitycouldnotbeestablishedbymerelyprovidingequalopportunitiestoall.Hearguedthatthebackwardclasses,women,Dalits,AdivasisandthebackwardamongtheMinoritiesshouldbegivenspecialopportunitiestobringthemuptotheleveloftheadvancedsectionsofthesociety.

Dr Lohia possessed a universal outlook. Hesubscribed to the conceptof the citizenshipof themind,citizenshipofidealswithouttherestrictivenessofnationalityorrace.Awidelytraveledman,DrLohiadreamt of an international orderwhere one couldtravelaroundtheworldwithoutpassportandvisasandwithoutanyrestrictions.HewasoftheviewthataWorldParliamentandaWorldGovernmentshouldbeestablishedtowhichthesovereignnationalstateswouldvoluntarilytransferapartoftheirsovereignty.Hewas also elected India’s representative to theconferenceforWorldGovernmentin1949.

Lohia had his own ideas about revolution.Hepropagated ideas of sevenfold revolution (SaptKranti)andjustifiedrevolutioninanyofthefollowing

conditions:(i)Arevolttoestablishcompleteequalitybetweenman andwoman,(ii)A revolt against theeconomic,politicalandsocialinequalitiesbasedonthecolourofskin.(iii)Arevoltagainstthetraditionalconcept of caste based on birth, and in favour ofspecialopportunitiesforthebackwards.(iv)Arevoltforoverthrowof foreign rule, for freedomand forthe establishment of a democratic government.(v)A revolt against inequalities in accumulation ofcapital,foreconomicequalityandplannedincreaseinproduction.(vi)Arevoltagainstinterferenceintheprivatelifeofcitizensandinfavourofademocraticsystem of government: and (vii)A revolt againstconventionalandnuclearweaponsandforrecognitionofSatyagrahasalegitimateweapon.

RammanoharLohiawasarelentlessrevolutionaryandanexponentofdynamicpoliticalandeconomicthoughts.Hewasaleaderofthemassesandalwaystalkedintheirlanguage.HewasastormypetrelnotonlyintheLokSabhawherehefulminatedonthefloorof theHouse against thepolicies of the thenGovernmentbutalsointhelargerandmoreextensivefieldofnationallifeforoverthirtyyears.

Hewasatruenationalistandadheredtothevaluesofthenationalmovement.Personallyhewasagainstthepartitionofthecountryonreligiouslinesin1947andopposedit.Hewaswhole-heartedlydevotedtosecularism andHindu-Muslim unity andworkedtirelessly tomaintain communal harmony in thecountry.

Heneverownedanyproperty.UntilhebecameamemberoftheLokSabhaheneverhadanyincome.His friends andwell wishers looked after him.His house inDelhiwas always open to the partyworkers. Lohiawas returned to Lok Sabha fromKannaujconstituencyin1967.InSeptember1967,heunderwentanoperation.Butheneverrecoveredfromit.Onthe12thofOctober1967Lohiabreathedhislast.ItwasindeedverysadthatLohiahadaveryshort spanof life -anoriginal thinker,aneminentParliamentarianandarebelcommittedtothecauseofsocialjustice.Hewasunmarriedandleftbehindnofamily,nopropertyorbankbalancebutprudentcontemplations.Hisgreatideaswerenotonlytothebenefitof thepeopleof Indiabut to thebenefitofwholemankind.


Ihavesometimestriedtoimaginemyselfassistingatmyownfuneral.Thefirstfeelingisoneofregretsat losingwhat life had still in store forme, soonfollowedbythesecondfeelingofachuckleatthegriefandpraiseIimagineovermydeadbody.Thereisanuncertaintyaboutthischucklethough,anditdoesnotlastlong.ItisreplacedbythemorecertainsenseofsadnessthatI,asacorpse,donotafterallmattersomuchtoanyone.Finallycomesthetasteofreliefthatthisconfoundedmessoflivingisatanyrateover.Ireadilyadmitthatthisreliefisofadifferentshadefromthejoyousreleasewhichcomesafterawell-spentlifeandIsometimesholdthattheprimaryfunctionofmanistoprepareforanemancipateddeath.

DeadIwasappointedatellertotheAll-IndiaCongress

Committeeelectionandwasacandidatemyself.Westartedbysortingthevotes.Thisprocesslastedovertwohours.Ifoundthevotesforcandidateswhoweretobesuccessfulslowlyincreasing.Quiteafewreachedtherequirednumberofvotessoonenoughandotherswereadvancing,butovermynametherewasadeadstop.IknewthatIwasdead.Butwhatmatteredittothelivingwhowentonplayingthegameofsuccessandalittlemoreofitoralittlelessofit.Iwasdeniedmychucklefornobodygrieved.Reliefdidnotcome.Iknowthatsomeonewillsay,“Cheerup,oldfellow,youarenotdead,youhavesurelylostyourmentalbalance”. I canonly say that he does not know.Ameeting of theAll-IndiaCongressCommittee isadmittedlyarareoccurrenceandittakesplacehardlyfour times in the year.The pleasure of attendingthesemeetingsisthusconfinedtoabarefortyhourseachyearandevenapersistent, speaker,unlessheisaJawaharlalNehruoramemberof theWorkingCommittee ormeddlesome, has to content himselfwiththemerematterofthree-quartersofanhourinthewholeyear.Butwhatdelightfulfortyhoursandwhatgloriousforty-fiveminutes.TheAllIndiaCongressCommitteeiscertainlythenation’ssupremeforum.

ImplicationsEvenatthetimeofvoting,IvaguelyknewthatI

hadlosttheelection.Ofthefivewhohadvotedfor

I Lost the A.I.C.C.melastyear,thelargernumbercouldnotgetelected[onelinenotreadable]obligationsandwithafondnessformeandforwhatIdo.AndIamaversetopersonalcanvassing.Among the electorswas onewhom Ihadtaughtatamonth’spoliticalschoolandanothera fatherwho came to remindmeof his son I hadsimilarlytaught,butsomeproudimpulsedeterredmefromaskingthemfortheirvotes.AndIamnotafull-growngroup-man.Ihavenotalwaysactedinconcertwithmygroupand,ifIhavenotpermittedthemmyentirecooperation,whatrighthadItoexpectthemtodothecanvassingforme.Thevagueforebodingwasconfirmedwhenvotesweresorted.TheimplicationofmydefeatcameonmeinaconfusedrushandtheuppermostfeelingwasthatIwasunwanted.Notevenfive out of the nearlyfive hundred delegates fromtheprovincewerepreparedtoputtheirtrustinmetorepresentthemontheAll-IndiaCongressCommittee.ThefactthattheyhavegenerallytobecoaxedandIhadnotdonethecoaxingisirrelevant.Whatmattersisthatthefreeanduntutoredchoiceofevenfivemendidnotfallonme.Mymindwasajigofchangingplans.Nomad,thatIam,eventhewidefrontiersofawholeprovincewerebecomingoppressive.WhatshallIdo?WhereshallIgo?Iwasatalooseend.

EscapesItisnicetohaveahomewhenoneisatalooseend.

Iimaginethatitmustbeverycomforting.Onecanliveinone’shomeaslongasonewishes,lockhimselfup,thinkwhatonelikesanddowhatonewills.Iamnaturallyimaginingahomenoteasilyaccessibletovisitors,preferablysomewhere in themountainsorneartheforests.Foreigntravelalsosoothes.Oneseesnewthings,addstoone’sknowledgeandcomesbackwitharefreshedimaginationandvigourofheart.Buta home and foreign travel needmoney.Themind,moreover,cannottoywiththeseideasforlong.Theseideas are only escapes.Themindwanders along.Essentiallyitseeksnotescapesbutachievement.Ittries todiscover thecauseof the failurewhichhasmadeityearnforfutileescapesbutwhichitwishestouseasastepping-stonetosuccessandachievement.WherehaveIfailed?RegretthatIshouldhavebeena full-growngroupmanor that I shouldhavedone


personal canvassing is onlymomentary.No goodcomesoutofsuchregret.Itsoilsanddebases.

Field WorkWhere have I failed? I have indeedwritten and

spokenthoughnotasmuchasIcould,butenormouslyas compared tomany others.Thesewritings andspeeches have surely not been useless.They haveestablishedcontactbetweenmeandasectionofthepeople, includingCongressmen, and this has beenof somemutual benefit. I am conceited enough tothinkthatIamdoingmybittowardstheattainmentof freedom. I am, however, democratic enough tobelieve in theverdict of delegatesof theprovince.Somethinghasbeenlacking.[Manuscriptunreadable]Iamhomelessandplaceless.Thereisnosinglearea,villageortownanddistrict,whereIhaveconcentrated.Idonotmeantheusualpower-politicsconcentrationforthatiscomparativelyeasy.Onehasonlytosecuretheadherenceofadistrictthroughmeansotherthanusefulwork.Concentrationoughttomeanthefield-workattempttotransformasmallandselectedareain the light of one’s ideas. I have held ideas andpopularized them but have not tried to transformthemintolocalactionandthatiswhereIhavefailed.Ithoughtofsettlingdowninavillage.Theideaofitisenchanting.Itisworthwhilefindingoutinactionwhetheracombinationoftheconstructiveprogrammeandsocialistagitationispossible.Isitpossibletoworkfor theremovalof thepresentsocialandeconomicorderthroughnon-violentaction?Thenthereis theconsciousbodylabourwhichiseasierofattainmentinasettledexistence.Oneproducestangibleresults,acleanervillage,withlessfeuds,moresolidarity,lessgossip,morespinningandapreparednesstorefusetoselleachotherouttothelandlordandthemoneylenderintimesoflawbreakingaction.Writingandspeechesfloatintheair;theyareasourcesometimesofvastsatisfactionbutquiteasoftenofgreatdejection.Onecleanervillageisacertainachievement,thereisnodeceptioninit.Buttheprospectoflivinginavillageisdreary.Ihaveacquiredahundredandonecityhabits.

It is so difficult to shed them,without them livingappearstobeanimpossibleproposition.ThentherearethepersonalproblemsaboutwhichtheChinesesagehassomethingtosay.Fromknowledgetothegoodindividual and throughvarious stages of improvedcommunitytothegoodstate.QuiteafewofusskiptheinterveningstagesbetweenknowledgeandtheStateandattempttosolvesocialquestionswithoutsolvingpersonalproblems.Thisdilettantishskippingmaybepermissibleelsewherebutnotinasettledexistencewhichseekstotransformaselectedarea.

Fleeting PhaseToliveandworkinavillage,onehastocontrol

thenamelessflightsofone’smindandtotrainone’sbodytosomeconsciouslabour.HowIwishIhadthecontrolandthetraining.Itisnotyettoolate.Butwhentobeginandwhere?Alazythoughtcreptonthemind.Whypesteryourselveswith theseannualelections,whynotbecomeanex-officiomemberoftheAll-IndiaCongressCommittee.Itissomuchlessbothersome,onehastobeonlyoncethePresidentoftheCongress.ThismaybeamazingfunbutIguaranteeitsindolence.Aday latercamemynomination to theCounciloftheUnitedProvincesCongress.Idonotwanttobeungratefultoourprovincialchief.ButIwishittoberealised,asIrealiseit,thatmyonlysanctioninthepoliticsoftheprovinceisAcharyaNarendradeoanybodytocherish.Butfortherest,Ibelongtomygrouponly as a follower.TheCouncil of theprovince insurelynottheplaceforme.Thattakesmebacktothethemeofsettledexistence,transformationofalocality,bodylabour,somewhere,anywhere.Thatistheplaceformeandforotherslikeme.TheAll-IndiaCongressCommitteeelectionwasbutafleetingphaseofanhourorso,butthemindofmaniscurious.Itmakesflightsinafewmomentswhichrequirehourstodisentangleanddescribe.IsupposeIwillcontinuetowriteandspeakandrompaboutasbefore.PerhapssomedayIwillsettleinavillagewithaviewtochangeit.

[Congress Socialist, 23rd February 1940]

Themain streamsof opposition toGandhiji arecommunalists, communists and constitutionalists.

Opposition to GandhijiStrangethoughitmayseem,theyarelikeasystemof inter-linked canals.Theirwaters frequentlymix


onewithanother.Aspiritofunconsciousmutualhelpprevailsamongthemsothatonedoesnotlettheotherdryup.OppositiontoGandhijiisnottheonlycommonpoint thatmakes for sharp bends and links amongthese contrary streams.They share together someotherattributes.CommunalistsopposeGandhijionthegroundthattheircommunitiesareletdownbyhim.Withsomethisisanhonestfeeling.Ithasitsoriginsinobscurantism.Menoffaithwhotreasureeveryshredofcontinuedpracticeasholy,detestreformers.TothehonestbutobscurantistHindu,Gandhijiappearsasthearch-devilwhoisborntodestroyhisfaith.WhathaveappearedtobethebasictenetsofHinduismhavebeenkickedandtrampled.EverythingelsemightperhapshavebeencharitablyexcusedbutwhenGandhijitookupashisfirstplanktheremovalofuntouchability,theSanataniwasbesidehimself.Nothingmuchcould,however,bedoneaboutit.AndtheSanatanilivestothisdayinastateofineffectiveragewhichhasenteredhis soul like iron,which expresses itself in hostileoutletsbesidesthoseofreligionandwhichwillyettakemanyyearstodieout.

Collected Papers (1939-1963)

SanatanismWhere theSanatani looks uponGandhiji as the

grave-digger of theHindu religion, theMuslimobscurantist sees in everyoneof his acts a plot todestroyIslamandestablishanunquestionedHindudomination in India.Although expressing itself incontraryways, the basic emotionofHindu as alsoMuslimobscurantistsconsistsofthecommonvaguefearthatthecontinuedpracticesoftheirfaitharebeingdestroyed.TheMuslimSanatanicannotunderstandthechangesgoingonaroundhim,particularlythosewhichGandhijiisintroducingintheHindureligion.He takes them for an attack on his own religion.EmbitteredrageagainstGandhijiisagaintheresultand it expresses itself in channels besides thoseofreligion.Besidesthehonestbutmisguidedreligiousman,thereisanothertypeofcommunalist.Thistypeisnotgenuinelyinterestedinproblemsofreligion.TheobscurantistatanyratemistakestheritesofhistribeforthereligionofmanandwhenhefindsGandhijiopposing these rites, he turns against him.For thepolitical communalist, however, religion is only acover.Byraisingcommunalcries,amanlackingin

talentandcapacityforsacrificecanalsohopetosecureafollowing.Thepoliticalcommunalisthasbeenverymuchinevidenceinrecentyears.Hehastakenupthecryofthepoliticalritesofhistribe,suchas,adueshareinpublicservicesorinlegislativerepresentationandministerialappointments.Hemanagestotakeinhistribe,althoughthetribeitselfdoesnotbenefitfromhiscampaignandwoulddobetter toconcern itselfwithbroaderquestionslikethefreedomofIndiaandreformoflandlaws.

Ease-Lovers Concernwith broader questions wouldmean

greathardshipsandsufferinganddemandabilityandpatience fromanyonewho aspires to a positionofleadership in thecountry.Themediocresandease-loversandyetaspirantstoleadershipare,therefore,unabletofindasuitableplaceforthemselvesintheCongress.Theytaketheshort-cuttoleadership.Theyespousethepoliticalritesoftheirtribeandunfoldanopposition to theCongressandGandhijiwhofightfor the rights and duties ofman.Not all politicalcommunalistsareconsciousdevils;withsometheirdevilrymaybeamisguidedventure.ConstitutionalistsformanothergroupamongGandhiji’sopponent.Theiroppositionhashistoricalelement.BeforeGandhiji’sarrival,theyweretheleadersofthecountry.Theywerehavildarsandcaptains to theirBritishgeneralsbut,amongtheirowncountrymen,theyenjoyedasuperiorposition.Unabletoaspireforgeneralshipthemselvesandsuffertheconsequencesthatthisaspirationentails,theycouldnotmarchwith thepaceof events.Thecountryceasedtohaveanyuseforthem.Theystartedventing theirwrath onGandhiji.Thewrath of theconstitutionalists has expressed itself in a series ofideasandarguments,sometimesmutuallyconflicting.Theearliestandstilltheirstrongestargumentbasesitselfonthesupposedanarchyandfutilityofalldirectaction.Civildisobedience,theysay,rousesthemassestoactionandlawlessness.Thishinderstheprogressofthecountry.Allprogressaccordingtothemmustproceedonlinesofconstitutionaldevelopment.Theyrefusetoseethat,sometimes,theonlywaytochangealawistobreakit.Theydonotrealisetheneedevertosummonmillionstoactioninordertothrowabadlaw-giveroutofanofficerestingonthebayonetandamisleadingsystemofpublicinstruction.Thechargeof anarchy and lawlessness is not always a happy


oneforthepersonwhomakesit,becausethepersonagainstwhomitismadesometimesrises,asaresult,inhispopularitywiththemasses.Particularlysoisthe casewithGandhijiwho eschews all violence.Constitutionalistshad,therefore,tofurnishthemselveswithadditionalarguments.

ChargesConstitutionalistsaresometimesfoundproclaiming

thatGandhijiisnobetterthantheythatheislikethemagradualistandanevolutionary.Historyhasgiventhemtheirmuch-neededvoiceoflouddeclamations.They assert and truly enough that nowhere and atnotimehasagovernmentbeenoverthrownwithoutviolence.Gandhijiwith his belief and practice ofnon-violence cannot, therefore, be regarded as arevolutionary.He is amoderate.ConstitutionalistshopewiththisargumenttoputthemselvesonalevelwithGandhijiandtohaveafairchanceinequalinghim in the respect of at least the educatedmen inthecountry.Itisperhapsuselesstopointouttotheconstitutionalist thatGandhiji cannot be both ananarchist and amoderate.A third argument oftenusedbyconstitutionalistsisthatGandhijiisamysticandauninformedidealist.TheytakeupsuchitemsasthecharkhaandtheWardhaschemeofeducationandpickholesinthem.Theysupportthemselveswithilldigestedandinadequateprinciplesofeconomyandeducation.Economicsasabodyofdoctrineisforthemanunchangingsetofrulesdevelopedintheindustrialandimperialistcountries.Theyapplytheserulestothe conditions and needs of progress of their owncountry andpride themselvesonbeingnationalistsandadvancedandcallGandhijiamystic.

CommunistsThe communistwho opposesGandhiji is here

an omnibus term coveringMuscovites, RoyistsandBosites. I amnot unawareof their differenceswitheachother.Infact, theirblood-feudsandutterinabilitytocometogether.But,althoughtheystandindifferentformationsandoftensnipeateachother,the shrapnel that these three varieties of IndiancommunistsuseagainstGandhijiisofthesamemake.Tothecommunistofallthethreevarieties,Gandhijiismoderate,acompromiserwhowhittlesdownIndia’sdemandsandashirkerwhoisalwaysunwillingtofight

backanimperialistchallenge.Thecommunistregardsthese attributes of compromise and shirking as thebasicqualityofGandhiji’smind.TothemildobjectionthatGandhiji has fought in thepast and showshiswillingnessevennowtofight,thecommunisthasareadyrejoinder.MahatmaGandhihasfoughtinthepast,becausehewasthenarevolutionarybuthehasnowexhaustedallhisrevolutionarypossibilities.Thathesaysheisonceagainwillingtofightismereaneyewashbut,shouldGandhijiwageanotherstruggle,thecommunistwillnotatallbediscomfitedandwillassertthathispressureforcedSatyagraha.

SatyagrahaWithSatyagraharecedingintothebackgroundand

whenitbecomesanear-event,thecommunistcriticismofGandhijiputsontheappropriateapparelsuitingtheoneortheothercontingency.WhenSatyagrahadoesnotseemtobearriving,Gandhijiisaconstitutionalistandacompromiserand,oninference,Satyagrahaisthentothecommunistaformofboldrevolutionaryaction.Assoonasitbeginslookingthatsatyagrahamay soon take place the communistmanoeuvreshimselfintoanewpositionanddecriessatyagrahaasaformofbloodlessandineffectivejail-going.InfairnesstoMr.M.N.Roy,itmaybesaidthathedoesnotonthewholepractisethisparticulartypeofgymnastics.To the Royist variety of the Indian communist,Gandhiji is a reactionary inhisvery conceptionofsatyagraha,whether he resorts to it or not. In thefinalanalysis,non-violenceistheonlycharacteristicwhichdistinguishessatyagrahafromotherformsofrevolution.Massactionandnon-paymentoftaxhavealreadyformedfeaturesofthesatyagrahamovementsofthepastandthereishardlyanyitemintheextremistprogrammeexceptthatofarmedinsurrectionwhichcannotatsomestageortheotherbetakenupintheSatyagrahamovement.Theremay exist differenceofopinionastothewisdomoftakingupthisitemorthat at anyparticular stageof themovement.Suchdifferences exist even among the different schoolsof communists themselves; for instance, betweentheMuscoviteswhohavealreadyadoptedtheitemsof general strike and armed insurrection in theirimmediateprogrammeand theRoyistswhodonotbelievethepresentstageripeenoughforanyformofrevolutionarystruggle.


Belief in ViolenceThecommunistbeliefthatGandhiji ismoderate

essentiallyhingesontheissueofnon-violence.Thecommunistand theconstitutionalistagreebetweenthemselves in their readingof past humanhistoryandtheonelessontobedrawnfromit.Theybelieveandpropagatethatnorevolutionispossiblewithoutviolence,although theydiffer inwhat is therefore,tobedone.Thisshows that thepropagandaof thecommunistproceedsuptoanextentalongthesamelinesas thatof theconstitutionalist; in theirattackonSatyagraha,bothofthemfeeltheneedtostressonviolenceasthemid-wifeofallrevolutions.Thecommunist belief in violence is not somethingthat relates to a future date. It is also immediate.Communistsnotonlybelieve,assomesocialistsalsodo, thatviolencemaybenecessaryat some futuretime; theybelieve in its immediateandcontinuingneed.Itis,ofcourse,obviousthattheycannotallthetimeberesortingtoarmedinsurrectionsbuttheyarealmostalwayspractisingsomeformofviolenceortheotherandmakinganidealofthispractice.Wheneverminorviolencecanbedonewithcomparativesafetyandchanceofsuccess,communistsseizeupontheopportunity. So, for instance, beatingof blacklegsandpeltingofstonesat thepoliceduringworkers’strikesisnotrareanditcanbeprovedfromMuscoviteliteraturethatsuchpracticesarepraised.

Continuing ConflictThisnaturallybringsthecommunistinstraightand

continuingconflictwithGandhiji.EventheBritishlawmaysometimesbeonthecommunistsideinsofarasdefensiveviolenceispermitted.Gandhiji,however,isouttomakeanewlawinwhichnoviolencenotevendefensiveviolence,andonlypeacefulresistanceis permitted.This fundamental difference betweenGandhijiandthecommunistontheissueofviolenceexpresses itself in various external guises.OneoftheseisthecommunistaccusationthatGandhijiasrepresentativeofthebourgeoisclassinterestand,assuch,adherestohiscreedofnon-violenceandisnota revolutionary.Gandhiji’s non-violence is tracedtothebourgeoisclasswhichherepresentsanditisconvenientlyforgottenthatthebourgeoisiehasalmosteverywherebeengrosslyviolent.Allthreetypesofthe Indian communists agree in their analysis ofGandhiji’sclasscharacter.Theformsofexpression,

ofcourse,vary.SubhasBabu,forinstance,stressesasmuchonageasonclass;Gandhijiandhislieutenantsarereactionariessometimesbecausetheyareoldandsometimesbecausetheyarebourgeois.InfairnesstoSubhasBabu,itmustbesaid,thathehimselfacceptsthenon-violentprincipleinSatyagraha,althoughthiscannotbesaidofhisfollowingwhichforpurposesof opposition toGandhiji is like other communistvarieties.

CertainitemsofGandhiji’sconstructiveprogrammesuchasthecharkhahavearousedintenseoppositionof the communist and his principles of criticismin this respect are shared by the constitutionalists.Scientific economics in our country has unhappilybeenthetradeofprofessorswhohavenotbeenabletoseebeyondthenosesoftheAdamSmith-Marshalllineage.Our communists differ from this lineageonlyinonematter,revolutionaryenoughnodoubt,thematterofabolitionofprivateproperty.Butothermore recent controversies such as those evolvingaroundtheprincipleofdecentralisationhavenotatalltouchedthecommunistortheconstitutionalist.Theseare not evengood imitators of theWest; theWesttheyimitateisatleastof50yearsago.Thisprincipleof decentralisation,worked out in the particularconditionsofIndia,makesofthecharkhaatleastanobjectofseriousdebate.Buttothecommunist, thecharkhaismerelythevisionofamysticreactionary.

Joint FrontOpposition toGandhiji has been described in

its various sources and forms.These are naturallyseparateanddistinct,but theconduits joiningthemshouldhavebynowbecomeapparent.Thissimilaritybetweensomeargumentsadvancedbythecommunistand the constitutionalist has been shown; the totalvolumeoftheseargumentscannotbutbeofmutualhelptoeachother.Iftheseargumentshadbeentrueandcorrect,wecouldperhapshavelookeduponthisjoint-frontindebateasanunavoidablebutnecessarydrawback. This joint-front is not infrequentlyrestrictedtodebate.Thereissometimesasortoffancy-dressballamongthecommunalists,constitutionalistsandcommunistswhereoneputson thedisguiseoftheotherandit isdifficult todiscoverwhoiswho.Manyconstitutionalistshave, for instance takenupthedisguiseofcommunalists.Thisdisguise isnow


wearing thin throughmuch usage and themorediscerninghavebeguntoseebehindthemask.Inlikemanner,afairlylargenumberofcommunalistshavetakenupthedisguiseofcommunismofonevariety

ortheother.Idonotwishtodiscloseinstancesofthisdisguise;wearetoonearevents.Perhapssomedaythisdisguisewillalsowearthin.

[National Herald, 22nd May 1940]

01.Thechoicebeforeustodayis(A)betweenaStateandnoStateatall(disintegration),(B)betweenacapitalistandasocialiststate.Infightingforeitherofthetwochoices,dangerofforgettingtheotherexists.TheCongress should therefore be judgednot onlybythetestwhetherit istakingthecountrytowardssocialismbutalsowhetheritsecurestheStateandastrongauthority.

02.TheCongress alone can help our people inchoice (A) and, up to June 1948, the prospects ofanyotherorganisationdoingitareminimal.ItmustthereforebeagreedonallsidesthattheCongressalonecanreceivepower.StrengthentheCongresssothatitcanmeetthethreatofcivilwar,preventthebreak-upofthecountrybeforeJuneorreuniteitsoonafterwards,establishsecurity(againstrioting,stabbing,etc.)nowandafterwards.

03.CongressleadersareseekingtopsolutionsforchoiceA,nationalisingtheIndianarmyandsecuringitsloyaltytotheState,negotiatingwiththeprinces,securing awards regarding division ofBengal andPunjabetc.These top solutionsare inadequateandneedtobereinforcedbypeople’ssolutions.Atotaleffort of the peoplemust be roused to combat thenationalemergency.

04.Itisuselesstodenytheclashthatexistsbetweentop solutions and people’s solutions, for instance,betweenStates people’s struggles and negotiationwith theprinces.Andyetanadjustmentof the twoprocessesisnotimpossible,simultaneouspursuitofbothinvariousdegrees,temporarysuspensionofoneinfavouroftheother,pursuitofoneprocessincertainareasandtheotherintherest.Anessentialforsuchadjustmentistherecognitiononallsidesoftheneedforbothprocesses.

Fifteen-Point Note on Congress and The Socialist Party05.Aone-yearpoliticalplanisindicated.Thisplan

wouldmobilisetotaleffortofthepeople,adjusttopsolutionswithpeople’seffort, strengthenCongressasinstrumentoftheState.Suchaplanwillnaturallyenoughdealseparatelywithourmajorissues,makeclassifications of different areas andgroups in thecountry,prescribepoliciesandprogrammes to suittheclassification,fixatime-table.

IllustrativeItems:(a)PlanagainstPakistan:InthefightagainstPakistan,thecountryhastobedividedinto danger zones,middle zones, safe zones andpolicies are to be prescribed to suit their varyingrequirements. Likewise, problems of safety in orevacuation fromdanger zones, strength and orderinsafezonesorsecurityagainstriotingorstabbinghavetoberesolvedfromtheadjustedanglesoftopsolutionsandpeople’sefforts.(b)PlanforStates:TheStateshavetobedividedintothethreetypesofsuchascomeintotheunionandareresponsiblygoverned,asmerelycomeintotheunionandasrefusetojointheunion.Policiestosuitthethreetypesandtime-tableforindividualstatestobelaiddownandtheAllIndiaStatesPeople’sConferenceenabledtoexecutethese.(c)PlanforLabour:Asoverallpolicyforlabourfromtheanglesoflivingwage,housing,etc.asalsooforganisationtobeframedsoastoawakenlabourtotheneedforastrongstate.Methodsandtimetableforcategoriesoflaboursuchasrailways,shipping,oil,textiles,etc.tobedevised.(d)PlanforgroupssuchasAdibasis and tribal people,Christians,Nepalis,etc.tobeworkedoutsoastosuitspecificareasandrequirements.(e)Planforsecuritytobeframednotonlyfromtheangleofarmedforcesincludinghomeguardsbutalsoofpeople’seffortsuchasvolunteersoranyotherformsofsecurityefforts.

06.The ideaof a single Indian citizenshipwithprovincialstatusforallsuchasresideintheprovince


must be passionately propagated. Propaganda inthe South for provincial readjustmentsmust besubordinatedtothisbasicidea.Tobecastelessisanintegralpartofthisidea.

07. The one-year political plan needs to bereinforcedbyaone-year economicplan.Themaincause of suchCongress unpopularity as exists is,aside from the prevailing disorder and uncertaintyas to theendofBritishrule, thebadsituationwithregardtofood,clothingandhousing.Althoughthissituationcanbefinallyimprovedonlyonlong-term,apartofitcanbeimprovedintheshort-term,asitistheresultofinefficiency,corruptionandthedisastrousidea that,withoutmastering the political situation,nothingmuch is possible in the economic sphere.First,equal importancemustbegiven tosatisfyingtheurgeforfreedomandsecurityandthatforbetterliving.Secondly,theCongressshouldsetupananti-corruption department of its ownwhichwillworkcontinuously and root out corruption particularlyamongcongressman.

08.Increasedproductionisessential.Withaviewtomaking this possible in the industrial sphere,government should declare a ceiling, say of 6 percent, onprofits andorder the rest tobedistributedforworkers’bonusorasconsumers’benefitthroughlower prices. Likewise, in the agricultural spherethe governmentmust intervenewith better livingto landless labour.These expedients to increaseproduction are necessarily short-term andmust beworkedouthereandnow.

09.This brings us to the long term economicobjectives of theCongress.The right to a livingwageand todecenthousingmustbeguaranteedasthefundamentalrightofeverycitizen.Theserightsmaynotbe fully achievable immediatelybut thesemust be declared to be our objective and,what ismore important, steps are to be taken immediatelyinthatdirection.Forinstance,definitetargetsfortheproductionoffood,clothingandthebuildingofhousesmustbelaiddownforeveryyearofafiveyearplantooperateatonce.

10.Muchof this neweconomic activitywill besocially owned and directedwhether by the state

ormunicipalities or other forms of cooperativeenterprises.Inaddition,thetimeisnowcomewhentheCongressshouldpreparetomakeachangeinitscreed.The objective to achieve complete independencewill soon have been realised and the Congressmust therefore prepare to declare as its creed theachievementofthesocialiststate.InfurtheranceofthiscreedtheCongressmustalsomakecertainstructuralalterationsinitsconstitution.InadditiontoitsregionalstructureofvillageandotherCongressCommitteesitshouldnowannextoitselfthefunctionalstructureofworkers’organisationsandsoforth.

11.TheSocialistPartyistodayfacedwithcertainclear alternatives. In the belief that the defects oftheCongressare irredeemableandwillmultiply, itmaycomplete itsbreakawayfromtheCongress; inthebelief that thedestructionof theCongresswillbeaprolongedaffairandthattheCongresshasstillaroletoplay,itmayseektoremovethedefectsoftheCongresstothebestofitsability;oritmayallowthingstodrift.Thethirdchoiceisclearlynotgood.Inmakingthechoicewemustbefullyawareofourbasicrequirements.TheCongress,it issaid,wasdevisedas an instrument of independence. It is impossiblethereforetoconvertitintoaninstrumentofsocialism.Thatmayormaynotbeandadequateargumentscanbegivenforeitherviewpoint.WhattiltsthebalanceinfavouroftheCongressisthetwo-foldnatureofourwork.Weneedaninstrumentorinstrumentsbothforstatebuildingandforsocialism.TheSocialistPartymaytakeboththetasksonitselfinoppositiontotheCongressbutthenitwillbeaseriousgamblewithourfutureand theoutcomehighlyuncertain.Aseriouscontinuing splitmay render our people frustratedandineffectivefortheymayseeintheCongresstheirinstrumentforstatebuildingandintheSocialistPartytheirinstrumentforSocialism.Theverygreatesteffortmustbemadetoavoidsuchasplit.

12.Ourpoliticallifeissurchargedwithnegativeattitudes.Wemusthaveourpeopleupintoalivingfaith for democracy, socialism and economicreconstruction. In a country like ourswhere fresheconomicactivitymustnecessarilybemanifoldoftheexistingone;oureyesmustturntowardsthepositiveactivityofrivertraining,electricity,morefoodcrops,etc.,andtheirproductionundersomekindofsocial


ownershipandcontrol.Wewouldimprovegreatlyasanationbyinfusingsuchpositiveattitudesintoourpoliticallife.

13.Anall-Indiacooperativeagriculturalassociationshould be set up on the lines of theSpinners’ andtheVillage IndustriesAssociation.The essentialdifferencebetweenacooperativeandacollectiveisnot,as issometimesmaintained, that thecollectiveendsprivateproperty in landwhile thecooperativeallows the peasant to retain his ownership. In factit is theaimof thecooperativeasmuchas it isofthecollectivetoendpropertyinland.Theessentialdifferenceisintheelementofcoercion;thecollectivedependsoncoercionwhilethecooperativedependsonthewillofthefarmersandassuchhastoputina lotmore of hardwork and pass through certainstagesofactionandreasoning.ItwillperhapsbethegreatestsingleachievementoftheCongressandtheSocialistPartyifeithercouldprovetotheworldthatcooperativeagricultureiscapableofbeingachievedthrough a non-governmental agency.The time isnowformakingthiseffortandrousingourpeopletoanewfaith.

14.IncasetheseformulationsincludingNo.10areacceptabletotheCongress,SocialistPartywilldowelltodissolveitself.SuchtransformationoftheIndianNationalCongressintotheIndianSocialistCongresswillhelpusvastlytofacetheproblemofthecomingyear.Inevitablythiswouldmeanbasicalterationsinthe organisation and personnel of theCongress.Aweakarrangementwouldbe,iftheCongressresolvednottoallowanyundemocraticmethodsofmembershiporelectionsandmembersoftheSocialistPartywhoarealsoCongressmenresolvedtoobeyingoodfaiththedisciplineoftheCongress.Amediumcoursehasalsobeenheresuggested.ShouldformulationNo.10beunacceptable,thismediumcoursewouldbethatofplannedpoliticsparticularlyfortheyearofnationalemergency.Through suchplannedpoliticswemaysucceedinfacingmanfullyandunitedtheperilsofthepresentcrisis.

15.Seculardemocracyandsocialismareourtwogreataims.Aconflictbetweenthetwohasemergedeverywhereelse.Ourcountrywillhave lighted thepathofAsiansformanygenerationstocomeifitcanavoidthisconflict.

23 May ’47

“TheCongressisaninstrumentofstatebuildingandtheSocialistswantasocialiststate.ThereneednotinherentlybeanyclassconflictbetweentheCongressandtheSocialists.Butsomehowthefrictionisthereanditisnoteasytoremoveit,”saidDr.RammanoharLohiaexplainingtomethedifferencesbetweentheSocialistsandtheCongressHighCommand.ItmaybementionedthattalksbetweentheCongressWorkingCommitteeandtheSocialistleadershavebeengoingonfornearlytwomonthswithMahatmaGandhialsoparticipatingwithaviewtobringingthetwowingsoftheCongressintocloserunityandunderstanding.Nopositiveprogresshasbeenmadeandthegapremainsaswideasever.TherearereportsthatafewSocialistleadersmaybeinvitedtojointheCongressWorkingCommittee so as tomake itmore broad-based. Itisdifficult tovisualise theexact role, theCongress

Lohia Outlines The Goal of Socialists(From Special Correspondent, National Herald)

WorkingCommitteeitselfwillbeabletoplayinthenextfewweeksandmonths.Withtop-rankingleadersjoiningthedominiongovernment,itisdifficulttosaywhatinfluencetheCongressWorkingCommitteewillwieldunlessapersonoftheprestigeandinfluenceofGandhijitakesuptheleadership.WhetherCongresswillcontinuetobeanationalorganisationorconstituteitselfintoapoliticalpartyaremattersthathavenotescaped theconsiderationof the leaders.Dr.Lohiaadded,“Wewantastrongstate,bothdemocraticandsocialist,andweofferoursupporttowardsthebuildingupofsuchastate.Wedonotbelievethatthisstatecanbecreatedbymenatthetopalone.Undoubtedly,theviewpointsoftheCentralandprovincialgovernments,deservefullconsiderationbutatthesametimethereisalsothepeople’sangleandwewantthatthepeopleshouldtakeanactiveshareinthebuildingupofthe


stateinsteadofbeingmerelookerson.Akindoffascistoutlookisrapidlydevelopingallroundanditisforthepeopletowakeupbetimesandcombatit.”

“Surrenders”“Inthepast”,Dr.Lohiasaid,“therehavebeena

seriesofsurrendersonthepartoftheCongress:First,ontheissueofadmittingtheMuslimLeagueintotheInterimGovernment,withoutensuringthattheLeaguewould also join theConstituentAssembly, thenontheissueofjointresponsibility,andthenontheissueofstatespeoples.Allthesesurrendershavebroughtus to thepresentposition.Ofcourse, theSocialistshavefailedtoworkoutanypositivepolicytorelievetherevolutionandtheenergiesofthepeoplesoastosweepthejungleofcompromises.Thereisthedangerofsurrenderinthecomingdaysandweeks,evenonthe present plan of partition and dominion status.Unlessthepeoplearevigilantandmaketheleaderstakeupabasicpositionandsticktoit,Iamafraidwemayloseonmanyotherfronts.”TheSocialistParty,Dr.Lohiasaid,sawgreatdanger,intheconferment

ofdominionstatus to twopartsof India. “There isscope for any amount ofmischief by the quittingpowerinthisarrangementandwiththestatesgiventherighttodeclaretheirindependence,thescopeisalmostboundless,”hesaid.“Wemustfacethismenacewith determination. First,wemust have a strongsecularstatewithguaranteedequaltreatmentforallthecommunitieseschewingallthoughtofretaliationagainst innocent people for the aims of their co-religionistsinanotherzone.Secondly,opportunitiesmustbecreatedandexploitedtopersuadeourbrethrenfromPakistantorejointheIndianUnion.Also,iftherulersofstateshesitatedtojointheIndianConstituentAssembly, then thePresidentmust invite thestatespeopletosendtheirrepresentativesandthewillofthepeoplemustprevailagainsttheautocraticdecisionsoftherulers.”Dr.LohiawasconfidentthattheSocialistswouldplayaneffectivepart in thecomingdays tocombat theevileffectsof theestablishmentof twodominiongovernmentsandindependentIndianstates.

[13th June 1947]

Thebye-electionstotheU.P.LegislaturedonotatallraisetheissueofwhoshallruntheGovernment,fortheCongresshasasolidvoteofmorethan160intheAssembly.“Theyhowever,raiseprominentlytheissueofdemocracyversusfascism,ofcleaningtheadministrationversuscontinuingitinitspresentcondition, of putting a new effort into agricultureandindustryversusstranglingthem”observedDr.RammanoharLohia,Socialistleader,inaninterviewwith theUnitedPressof India.Dr.Lohiasaid,“ItisrathercuriousthatsomuchplayshouldbemadeabouttheSocialists’desireforpower.Afterallwhyareelectionsfought,exceptthatthepartyinpowermayretainitorthepartyinoppositionmaycaptureit.Theonlypoint iswhether thisfight takesplacefor selfish ends or for programme andpolicies.Atremendouseffortisneededtoimpressourpeoplewith these rather elementary political truths forotherwiseaphaseoflackoffaithandinactionwillsetinandthecommonmanwillagainstepbackinto

Lohia Draws Picture of Socialist Regimeoblivionandslavery.TheSocialistPartyistryingtorouse thepeoplebyprogrammesandpolicies andto tell the voter thatwhen he casts his vote for acandidateheisactuallycastinghisvoteforhimself,hisneedsanddesireforgeneralgoodandwelfare,TheSocialistleaderthenenvisagedthelineofactionthepartyinpowerwouldtakeinaSocialistregime:

AdministrationThepostofcollectormustbeabolished.Lawand

orderandgeneraladministrationshouldbecomethesphereofdistrict,cityandvillagepanchayats.Onlythiswaycan thealliancebetween theold tyrannyofcollectorsandthenewtyrannyofMLAscanbebrokenandthecorruptionofbureaucracydestroyed.

AgricultureTwentybighasoflandandacowaretheminimum

that a family shouldbeenabled topossess.This ispossiblethroughathreeyearplanwhichwouldinclude


setting up of a small industry in every village.Asocialistgovernmentwouldaloneenergeticallybringnewlandsundercooperativecultivation.

IndustryThe Socialist Partywould bring under social

ownershipallindustrieswithacapitalofonecroremore.And no one shall earn less thanRs. 100 amonth.

Middle ClassesIn viewof the increasingunemployment among

themiddle classes, theSocialist Party reaffirms itspolicy of alternative employment in the event ofretrenchment.

Social ServicesTheSocialistPartywillseizethefirstopportunity

forexpansionofsocialservices,suchasadequatewatersupply,covereddrainage,publichealthandsanitation.

Government EmployeesThepresentgradeof theGovernmentservants is

irksomeandmustgoandajusterclassificationtakeitsplace.Meritandnotroutineseniorityandofcourse,notthecapriceofthesuperiors,shouldbethetestofpromotion.NoGovernment servant shoulddemandasalaryofmorethanRs.1,500andnoneshouldgetlessthanRs.100amonth.TheSocialistPartywilllayspecialemphasisonrecruitmentandtrainingofstafftorunstate-ownedindustriesandfirms.

[National Herald, 19th June 1948]

AstuporfelloverBanaraslasteveningwhenthenews ofAcharyaNarendraDeva’s losing the by-electionreachedhere.AcharyaNarendraDevaandDr.RammanoharLohiareceivedthenewswithsurprise.Acharyajiwascalm.Heonlysaid,“SothefiguresarealmostthesameaspredictedbytheLeader.”Hegavemeaglanceandsmiled.‘Wemusttakethefactsastheycometous.Thereisnotmuchtocontestnow’,Dr.Lohiaremarked.Hundredsofpeople,Congressmen,teachers, journalists and businessmen called onAcharyaNarendraDevaintheeveningattheHarishChandraCollegewherehehadbeenstaying.Theydid

Acharya Narendra Deva’s Defeat[Dr. Lohia Says ‘Odds Against US’]

notbelievethenews.Mostofthemhadcometogetitconfirmedfromhim.Dr.RammanoharLohiaissuedthefollowingstatementlatelastnight:“TheSocialistPartyhassufferedareversebytheelectoraldefeatofourleader,AcharyaNarendraDeva.Thisisamomentofbitterness tomanyandasenseofwearinesshascomeoverthem.Iwillnotrecounttheoddsagainstus,someofthemsuchasimperialdemocracy.Yetthefightforsocial justicecontinuesunabatedanddarkmomentsarerecalledforreneweddedicationtotheflushingdawnsoontocome.”AcharyaNarendraDevaleftforLucknowthismorning.

[Leader, 5th July 1948]

TheSocialistPartyhasdecidedtosetupanInstitutetoconductresearchintothepolitical,economic,socialandalliedproblemsthatfaceIndiaandtheworld.IthasappointeditsfirstCouncilofGovernorconsistingofAcharyaNarendraDeo,Vice-Chancellor,LucknowUniversity, Sri JayaprakashNarayan, Professor

Khoj ParishadA Socio-Economic Research Organization

Satyendra Nath Bose, F.N.I., Khaira Professorof Physics, University College of Science andTechnology,Calcutta, SriBalkrishnaGupta,B.Sc.(Econ.) (London), ProfessorKhagendraNathSen,M.A., Principal,Asutosh College (CommerceDepartment),ProfessorSamarendraNathRoy,M.A.,


Statistical Department, Calcutta University, SriSurendraMohanDwivedi,SriStyabrataSen,M.Sc.andmyself.The institutewill be known as ‘KhojParishad’withitscentreinCalcutta.ItssphereofworkshallbeEastIndiacomprisingAssam,Bengal,Orissa,Bihar andUnitedProvinces, although itwill enterinto relations of alliance or affiliationwith similarinstitutionselsewhere.Ourcountryhasbeensufferingverygreatlyforlackofsucharesearchinstitute.Theuseofaforeignlanguageinthestudyofsocialaffairswhilethenaturalscienceshavebeencomparativelyunhinderedbecauseoftheiruseofsymbols,ortotheexistenceofforeignruleassuch,weoweourpovertyofsocialthought.There-orderingofourpoliticalandeconomicarrangementshasthereforebeenunabletoproceedaccordingtoasystem.Generalaspirations,vague plans and inchoate action havemarred thecountry’s achievements.TheKhoj Parishadwillsetout tostudysocialaffairs. Itwillstudythefirstprinciplesofvarioussocialsciencesjustasmuchastheactualconditionsprevailinginourcountry.Disregardoftheinteractionthatgoesonbetweendiscoveryoffirstprinciplesandunderstandingofactualconditionshas led to theappallingstateofsocialstudies.TheKhojParishadwillrepairthisorder.Itwilldiscoverfirstprinciples.Itwillunderstandactualconditions.Itwilleverbeawareoftheorganicrelationshipbetweenthe two.TheParishadwill thus create the tools aswellastheproductsofenquiry.TheresearchesoftheKhojParishadwillhelpgroupsandpersonstobridgethedistancebetweenaspirationsandachievements.Aspirationswillturnintointentions;intentionswillbecomeplans; planswill be clothed intoflesh andblooddetail.ResearchesoftheKhojParishadwillbediffusedamongthepeoplethroughthewrittenandthespokenword,butitsserviceswillalsobeopentousebyprogressivepersonsandgroupsasmaywant itstrainedassistanceandinformationoranalysisandthepreparingofplansforremovingpovertyorinjusticeandincreasingthenation’swealth.TheSocialistPartyhaslongbeenwantingtosetupresearchinstitutes,notsomuchforthepurposeofpopularizingSocialism,butessentiallywithaviewtoobtainingskilledanalystandtrainedpersons.Oncetheinstituteissetup,itwillhave complete academic freedom.The researchistwillbewelcometogowhitherhissubjectleadshim,infact,hewillbeobligedtodoso.Asidefrominitialsocialistdirectionwhichwillbefurthermaintained,

theSocialist Party in noway seeks to suppress ordistortenquiry.Infact,theSocialistPartywillbeeveranxioustoobtainunbiasedanalysisonthesubjectsitwantstheinstitutetostudysothatitsdecisionsonthematters of policymaybe as sound as they areinspiredwithanideal.Anumberofresearchinstitutesareindeedalreadyinexistence.These,however,areeitherorganizationsofindustryandGovernmentorconnectedwithUniversities.Someoftheseinstitutesarenarrowinaim,othersarefranklypropagandist.

Thosewithanarrowaimaresometimescapableofanalyzingasmallsectorofevilandreformwithinthe existing framework, also of suggestingwaysto improve economy on the profit basis, but arewholly incapableofachieving thewiderobjectivesthattheKhojParishadhassetbeforeitself.Quiteafew research institutes are so blatantly propagandainstitutes that they do no researchwork, not eventhatwhich is necessary for successful propaganda.Institutes connectedwith IndianUniversities tella taleofwaste in labourandmoney, for theyhaveneitherthewiderobjectivesoftheKhojParishadnorthe narrower pursuits of business research. In caseKhojParishadsucceedsinachievingitsobjectives,itwillbethefirstgenuineinstituteofresearchinsocialaffairs in our country. Itwill be the first sizeableefforttoremovethepovertyofIndia’ssocialthought.Itwill help in the economic reconstruction of thecountry,forschemesofindustryandagriculturecanbeworkedoutonlyaftertheyareclothedwiththefleshandblooddetailofresourcesandobjectives,humanaswell asmaterial.Concrete intentions, definitiveplansandpurposiveactionarethegreatneedofthecountryandtheSocialistParty.TheKhojParishadsetsouttofulfilthisneedaswellastoputfreshvigourinto India’s social thinking. For a venture of suchproportions,supportofawidevarietyisessential.Inthefirstplace,menandwomenwhoarewilling tomakeoftheirtasteandabilityinresearch,azealousmission, are requested to enlist. Secondly, Indianand overseas gifts of research—magazines, booksandperiodicals—willbeurgentlyneeded.Thirdly,itwouldbeimpossibletobuildupthisinstitutewithoutsubstantialcontributionsofmoney.AllcontributionsinmoneyandbooksandotheroffersofhelpwillbegratefullyreceivedattheofficeoftheParishadat14,BentinckStreet,2ndfloor,Calcutta.Theconstitution


oftheKhojParishadwhichwillbearegisteredbody,isavailabletointendingmembersandtheinauguralmeetingwill soon be held. I appeal to friends ofresearchinIndiaandoverseastohelpinthiseffort

forremovalofpovertyandemergenceoffreedomandthebuildingupofasocietyinwhichtheIndianminddemolishes thewalls of caste and class and thinksthoughtsnurturedinfree-wellbeing.

[PamphletofKhojParishad,

1Indianpovertyislargelyduetodearthofcapital

andlackoftools.TheIndianhastoproducewealthwith tools and capital worth Rs. 150while theWest European commands overRs. 3,000worthof production equipment. Foreign capital cannotbridge this gap.Not even a billion dollar loan canraisetheperheadcapitalinIndiabymorethanRs.10sothatitcouldatthemostberaisedtoRs.160.Nativecapital iswhollyincapableofthistask.ThelastfiveyearshaveconclusivelyshownthatIndiancapitaldoesnotinvestintheindustriesthatsupportlife and give health. Its largest investments havebeen in the artificial ghee industry and the cinemaandpharmaceuticalshaveprobablyfollowed.Thisisonlynatural.Theindustriesandoccupationsoffood,clothandhousingalthoughhighlynecessaryforthehealthandwell-beingofthepeopleretainnoscopeforquickandhighprofits.Adairymeansalongperiodofwaitingandratherlowanduncertainprofitsattheendoffiveyearsandmore,whileaplantofartificialgheemeansquickandhighprofits.Byitsownshowing,capitalismhascondemneditself.TheStatealonecanformcapitalandprovidetoolsandorganizationfornewandhealthyoccupationsandtodothatitmusthaveaplanonthebasisofsocialownershipofnewcapitalandmustplanforthenationasawhole.The13-pointprogrammetoendpovertycontainstwomainitemsofcapital formation: (1)FoodArmy,and(2)Industrialization,particularlywiththehelpofcottageindustrymachines.Noindustrialistorfederationofindustrialistscanpromotetheinventionofmachinesor theirmanufacture. Indian record in inventingmachinesistodatezero.TheStatemustnowstepin.Capitalispastearningsturnedintotools.Inthefirstplace,Indiansavingsareverylowandinthesecond

placeeventhesecannotbeturnedintotoolsforlackofproductiongoodsindustries.TheStatealonecanstepupbothsavingsandtools.AmongsavingsavailabletotheStateforcapitalformationwouldbethenormalyearly balance and additions to it fromprofits outofnationalisedindustriesandsterlingbalancesand,ofcourse,moneycanalsobecreatedinreasonableamounts if it is put to theuseof capital formationunderanationaleconomicplan.Indiaislivinginastateofdeferreddeath.Sheiseatingherpastearningsandtherestofthesterlingbalanceswillbespentupinanothertwoorthreeyears.Faminewillstareinthefaceandthenitwillbetoolate.Thekeyindustriesofthecountrymustbenationalizedduringthecurrentyearifcatastropheistobeavoided.Aplanofcapitalformationmust be put into immediate operation.In addition to the food army and smallmachineindustrialization,volunteerlabourisathirditemofcapitalformation.Evenifoneoutofeverytenintheadultpopulationweretogiveanhouroffreeworktohisvillageonsomeworkofdiggingandbuilding,thecountrywouldbeable tofinancecapitalworksworthmorethanonebillionrupeeswithoutspendinganythingatall.Thiswillbepossibleonlyafter thedestruction of feudal and capitalist ownership andwhenthepeopleareenthusedintoafeelingofmasteryovertheirwealth.Meanwhile,volunteerbandsofthemoreconsciouselementsinthepopulationmustsettoworkimmediately.ThedestructionoffeudalismandcapitalismisnotaloneadictateofjusticeorequalitybutasimplelifeanddeathissuefortheIndianpeople.Inanothertwoorthreeyearsitwillbetoolateandfaminewillstalktheland.

2Politics consist of four elements—State,

Programme to End Poverty


Government,PartyandIndividual.Inademocracy,eachelementhasitsplaceandacorrespondingchartofdutiesandrights.Inadictatorship,allbarriersarepulleddownanddistinctionsandlimitationserasedsothatallthefourelementsaremixedintoablur.TheIndianStatehasbecometheCongressGovernment.TheCongressGovernmenthasbecometheCongressParty and theCongressParty is fast becoming thePrimeMinister.Theprocesshasgoneonbeforeoureyes.EventsareheadingtowardsanaturalculminationwherethePrimeMinisterwouldbeabletosayandactasifheweretheIndianState.PuredictatorshipprevailsintherulingpartyinIndia.Luckily,Indiahasalsoanoppositionandthatiswhydemocracyhasstillafightingchanceofassertingitself.Someoppositionelementswant to fight aCongress dictatorship bybuildingupamoreefficientandruthlessdictatorshipof their own.Thatway lies disaster and ruin.Nodictatorship can knock the inertia out of the oldand lazy bones of India.A Socialist dictatorshipwill be as inefficient, corrupt andpolicyless as theCongressdictatorship.Toputactivityintolazybones,distinctionsandlimitationsamongthefourelementsofwhichpolitics iscomposedmustbemaintained.Somemenmustbewillingtoabdicatepower.Eventhoughabletohaveittheymustrefusetopossessit.Butthisisperhapsanunattainableidealglimpsedonlyonceinrecenthistory.Partialabdicationofpoweris,however, possible for everybody and should be soinademocracy.Recognitionoflimitationsispartialabdicationofpower.Fromthenationaltothevillagepolitician, everyone in Indiamust restrain himselfin the accumulation and use of power.The four-pillarState is an inevitable consequenceof such arecognition.PoweroftheStatemustbebrokenupintoasmanyfragmentsastherearevillagesandreposedinthevillagecommunity.NaturallythecentrallimboftheStatemusthavepowerenoughtomaintaintheintegrityandunityoftheStateandtherestofitmustbe fragmented. IdonotknowofanyotherwayofintroducingchangeandactivityintoIndianlife.The13-pointprogrammetoendpoverty,therefore,makesthefour-pillarStatetheframeworkintowhichtheothertwelveitemsmustfitin.AgreatloadofresponsibilityrestsontheSocialistrankandfile.Inadditiontobeinganagitator,theSocialistmustnowlearnupallthathecanaboutsoilandwaterconditions,rawmaterials,processing possibilities, common lands, thinking

habits—inshort,industrialandeconomicpossibilitiesof his village or town community.Hemust at thesametimebeseizedwiththerevolutionarypassionofthefourpillarState.Furthermore,hisrelationswithhiscommunitymustberesponsibleandhemustbeawareofhislimitations.Socialistsmustnowunfoldawarmandlivedebatearoundtheprogrammetoendpovertyintheircommunities.Thesecentersofdebateandagitationwillintimeandifnecessarybecomethecentersofrevolutionarypowerforthedestructionoffeudalismandcapitalism,forthesettingupofthefourpillarStateandfortheremovalofpoverty.

3Adulteration is the keynote of Indian life. Food

isadulteratedandsoisoilandgheeandallmutualdealings are adulterated.Noone canbe quite sureaboutanythingexceptthatfalsityandbriberyisalmostapartofeverytransaction.Insuchanationalsituationmanymenare losing faith inpoliticalchangesandinsist on raising up character as a prerequisite foreverythingelse.Howischaractertobebuiltup?Inthesituationthatexiststoday,thegreatestdangertocharactercomesfromgreedandbigmoney,wastefulexpenditure and the social prestige that is falselyassociatedwithit.Menwantmoney,thoseatthetopwantmore of it and anyhow, in order tomaintainthemselves in luxuryandprestige,and thoseat thebottomwantalittlebitmoresoastofilltheirbelly.Theattackongreedmust,therefore,takeplaceatthetop.Thisistheonlywaytoridthepopulationofitspresentobsessionwithmoney.Theprogrammetoendpoverty lays down amaximumexpenditure ofRs.1,000peraveragefamily.Itisfutiletolaydownsuchamaximumfortheservicesalonebecausecapitalistsand landlordswhohavemuchhigher incomes caneasilycorruptthem.Totallossofnationalcharacterand austerity conditions prevailing in the countrydictate such a ceiling on people’s incomes andexpenditures.That is theonlyway tomakepeoplethinkandfeelalonglinesofgeneraluplift inplaceoftheirpresentobsessionwithindividualuplift.Noamount of religion or education can achieve thisdivertingofpeople’sattentionfromindividualuplifttogeneralupliftunless the lawsteps inandmakespunishableallspendingaboveRs.1,000perfamily.Oncethisisdone,priceswillfall,habitswillchange,speculationwillnolongerbeusefulandeducationor


religioncanthenstepintorootoutotherremnantsof falsity andbribery.Education is at present builtup on the same premises as the general falsity ofIndiancharacter.Itneithertrainstheperson’smindnorequipshimforaliving.Anincreasingshiftfrombarren education into the subjects known as poly-technicalortechnicaleducationisrequired.Parentsandsonsanddaughterswillheaveasighofreliefatsuchashift.Averylargepartofwhat isknownasuniversityeducationtodaywillintheyearstocomebetakenupbyanetworkofpeople’suniversitiesandhighschools.Suchinstitutionsaremeantforyoungmenandwomenwhotaketosomeoccupationafterthematriculation,workinitforsomeyearsandthentakeasixmonths’orayear’sleavetoattendthem.SuchmenandwomeninEuropeobtainaneducationsuperiortothatoftheIndiangraduate.Educationandculturemusttakerootsinthesoilandthiscanbedoneonlyifthenationallanguageismadecompulsoryintheuniversitiesstraightaway.Amastercampaignofliteracycanbeeasilyundertakeninafour-pillarStatewhichhasbeenridoflandedandcapitalistownership.

RecreationaleducationisasfalseandbarrenasanyotheraspectofIndianlife.Oftenyoungstudentshavenootherdiversionexcepttomarchupanddownthemainroadoftheirtownandlookatthefashionandvanitiesofwomen.Ofanyadventureintherealmofideasandhumanrelationshipsthereisbutlittle.Strainsof songs also produce amental state of impotentcomplaint.Allthismuststop.TheprogrammetoendpovertymakesitincumbentupontheStatetostartorhelpinthestartingofculturalinstitutes,youthclubsandwomen’s clubs.Thiswill undoubtedly bringvarietyandjoyintothesongsandtalkofthepeople.Finally,theAnti-CorruptionDepartmentoftheStatemustbe,likeHighCourtJudges,independentoftheGovernment.The four-pillar State, bymaking thevillageorthecitycommunitylargelyresponsibletoitself,byhandingoveralargepartoftheadministrationtoit,willremovesuchcorruptionasinevitablycomesinIndiawiththesystemthatrulesfromabove.Thephilosophicalelementsincharacterformationareverydecisivebuttheyformadifferentstory.

Thegreatesttestforanypoliticalpartyliesinitswilltopower.Acuriousobscurityhasbeenallowedtogrowaroundthiswillinourcountryasifitweresinfuloratleastuglytowantpower.Thenewpartymustendthisstateofenfeeblinghypocrisy.Itmustbeshotthroughandthroughwiththewilltopower.Afterall,apoliticalpartyexistsbecauseofpoliciesandprogrammeswhich itbelievesessential for thenationandtheworldandwhich itmustequipwiththeforceofthegovernment.

India is shiveringwith hunger and theworld iscowering under the shadow ofwar and the PrajaSocialistPartyofIndiawillmissitsdestiny.ifitdoesnotwish tobecome thegovernmentof the land assoonaspossible.Towanttobecometheoppositionwhenthesubstanceofthepeopleandofallmankindisbeingeatenawayisugly ifnotsinful.WhenthemergeroftheSocialistPartyandtheKisanMazdoorPrajaPartyiscompleted,thepartywillbecomethelargestsocialistpartyoftheworld.Itwillbeableto

The Will to PowerclaimatotalvoteexceedingseventeenmillionsandwillsurpasstheBritishLabourParty,whichisnowthelargest,byaroundfourmillionvotes.Thenewpartywill soon enoughbe confrontedwith national andinternationalresponsibilitiesthatmayoverwhelmit,ifitdoesnotmoveforwardtomeetthem.Thepeoplehaveindeedchosentheirparliamentandithasstillfourandahalfyearstogo.Butademocracyisalwaysdynamic,unlessitpalesintoalifelessceremony.Whenthetemperofapeopleundergoesaradicalchange,the time-honoredpracticeofgenuinedemocracy istodissolvetheparliamentandtoregisterthepeople’swill in a freshelection.Towarmup the temperofthepeopleso that theybecomethemakersof theirdestinyratherthansuffertobeitstoolsisahighdutyofdemocraticaction.Onlywhendemocratsconfesstothemiseryofinactionisthefieldleftopentothemumbojumbovotariesofviolenceandinsurrection.Thewill to powermust indeed be a chaste andvigorouswill,asfarawayfromperversityasitshouldbefromweakness.


Ahealthywilldoesnotmakeuseoflies,deceitandviolence.Onlyafrustratedwillindulgesinperverseconductandisconsumedbyitsowndespair.Atthesametime,awill,whosevitalityisatalowebb,losesthepowertomoveandstandsstill inthestreamofevents or is tossed about if it is not drowned.Thewilltopowerofthenewpartywillbefacedwiththedangeralikeofperversityasofweakness.Tostrivecleanlytocapturepoweronthemorrowisahightrustbutanequallysacredobligationisnottogiveuptoweaknessorgiveintoperversity,shouldpowernotcomeforadecadeormore.Thewilltopowerofapersonorapartyisbestmeasuredbythewilltoreacttosituations,oldandnew.Theworldaboundsinmenwith delayed reactions or none at all.Challengescometothem,oftenevenunnoticed.Indiaisfullofsuchchallenges,oldandnew,butwherearethemenandwomen to react to themand respond to them?The twoparties that are coming togetherwere notsufficientlyaliveintheirwill topowerandintheirsensitivity to situations and a primary test for thenewpartywill lie in its abilityof swift reaction tooldandnewchallenges.Afewillustrativesituationsmaybeindicated.Unemploymentandunderfeedingaredreadfullyincreasingparticularlyamongartisans,landlesslabourers,middle-classesandeducatedyouthoutofschoolsandcolleges.Thesearepreciselythesectionswhichhavenovoicenororganisationandnopoliticalpartyhasyettriedtoreachthemortobringthemtothestageofdaybydayhistory.Thevillageyouth,partlyalsothecityyouth,hasneithereducativerecreationsnorhealthfulsports.Thecorruptingsystemofweddings through arrangements and dowries ispermitted lest some awkward situation of a freerrelationshipmay transitorily develop. Educationneitherbuildsthemindnortrainsforalivingandtextbooks are annually and deterioratingly changed inordertoearnprofitsforcorruptauthorsandpublishers.GovernmentsandMunicipalitiesdonotbuildhousesfor the poor, andDistrict Boards allow landlesslabourerstobethrownoutoftheircottages,andthepeopleandtheirpoliticalpartiesstandstill.Thevastmanpowerofthecountrywringsitshandsatdroughtandfloodanddoesnotdig,fornopoliticalpartyisabletocombinevoluntarylabourandland-redistributioninamightysweep.

The Government is permitted to break its

solemnvowsandtobegforandimportfood,whileunemploymentincreasesandcultivableareasabound.Newtaxesareimposedonthepoorwhileprincesandmillionairesareassuredoftheirpensionsandprofits.CitieslikeKanpurpermitthesewageoftanneriesandotherfactoriestomixupinthestreamofGangawithinfurlongs ofwhere lakhs of people bathe and evendrinkthepollutedwater.Thepeoplearedulledandnopoliticalpartyisaliveenoughtoawakenthem.Eventothechallengeofstarvation,theresponseisslenderfor,whenapoliticalpartydoesnotinterveneatthestageofchronicunderfeeding,itandthepeoplearetoodulledtorevoltatthestageoffamineanddeaths.ThePrajaSocialistPartywillhavetoreacttoallsuchsituations,oldandnew.To react isprimarily tobeawareandthentothinkoutsolutionsandfinallytoactinconstructionorcombat.Partieswhicharealivereactandkickinalldirections.Itisafalsenotiontoimagine that one lineor accustomed lines ofworkeconomise energy.A live party expands energybyexpendingit.ThePrajaSocialistPartywillbecalledupontoconstruct,toputintonationalpractice,whatistodaylargelytheceremonialprogrammeofdiggingfor irrigation,ditchesand the like. Itwillbecalledupon to assist in the communityprojectswherevertheyareundertaken.

Itmustdisciplinethevillageyouthforvoluntarylabour as well as such sports as swimming. Itmust strive to change the people’s habits of food,marriage and reproduction. Itmust take controloverMunicipalities,District Boards andVillagePanchayatssoastomakecompostoutofnightsoil,to build houses and to provide freemachine. Letitnotbe forgotten that thewill toconstruct and tocooperateistheothersideofthewilltoagitateandcombatandthetwotogethermakethewilltopower.Thosewhodonotknowhowtoconstructcanneverknowhow tocombatcleanly.Half-truthsandhalf-measuresareaspecialdiseaseofIndianpolitics.Ahalf-measureofthephaseofagitationisfollowedbyasimilarhalf-measureof thephaseofconstructionand politics oscillates between the two extremeswithoutachievinganythingworthwhile.Nopoliticalpartycaneverdowithoutagitationandcombat.Ifitstands still in themidst of growingunemploymentandunderfeeding, of increasing taxes on the poor,it has already succumbed to paralysis in the event


offamine.Evenanadolescentoughttoknowthatafaminemayovertakethepeopleintwoorthreeyears.Topreventthatfamineandtocompelthegovernmentto register a freshverdict of the people’swill it isnecessarytocombatthegovernmentnowwheneverevilsofunemploymentandunderfeedingaremanifest.ThejointconferenceoftheSocialistandtheK.M.P.Partiesmayormaynotdealwiththeseproblemsindetail,butitmustbeawareofthemasthebackgroundofitstalks.On20thSeptember,fivedaysbeforethisconference,therewillbeanopportunitytomobilizethepeopleonthesimpleissuesofunemploymentandunderfeeding.The success of this daywill dependonthepreparationthatprecedesit,ontheextenttowhichthesocialistsfrequenttheareaswhereartisans,middle classes and the educated youths live andthose of employment exchanges, ultimately on thewill to power and the sensibility to situations.Theagitationmaycentreonsuchsimpledemandsastherecruitmentofahalfmillionfoodarmyforthepurposeofcultivatingnewlands,theinstitutionoftownshipprojectsandtheappointmentofgovernmentministersorspecialofficerstosecurerawmaterials,marketingandstandardqualityforartisans.Theunderfedmustmarch and demonstrate so that the government isneverpermittedtotransferordenyitsresponsibilitytofeedthepeople,nordothepeopleresignthemselvesto the inevitability of famine.Nomore propitiousbeginningcouldhavebeenexpectedforthelaunchingofanewparty.ItwillbeforthePrajaSocialistPartytocontinueanddeepenthemobilizationofthepeopleandtowarmuptheirtemper.Aperverseexerciseofthewill topowermusthoweverbeprohibited.Thestage now is set for national agitations and localsatyagrahasandletnoonetrytodissipateenergybyprematurelypushingontonationalcivildisobedience.Ideologicalissues,whichhavethepowertomakeormar,willalsofacethenewparty.One’sviewoflifeandthemeaningoneattachestothepurposeoflivingisultimatelythemainspringofthewilltopowerandthe ability to be aware. Suchdebates on ultimateswillundoubtedlytakeplaceorwillatleastbeinthebackground of one’s talk. In this connection, thetestimonyofabrothersocialistwhospentmanyyearsinHitler’sconcentrationcampsandwasultimatelyexecuted by him is invaluable. Such testimonies,literallywritten in blood, deepen the insight, even

when agreementwith individual findingsmay notbegeneral.JuliusLeberhaslaidbarethereasonsforthefailureofsocialdemocracyinGermany.Alreadysapped in itswill to power by continued existenceas the opposition for two generations, the SocialDemocraticPartyofGermanycouldneverriseaboveformalisticlevelsofdebate.BasingitselfonMarxism,itappealedcontinuouslytothatphilosophyforallitsmistakesandmisinterpretationsanditsthinkinglostallfreshnessanddegeneratedintoquotations.SocialdemocracyinGermanywasoppositionalandMarxistanditendedupwithadividedsoulandhalf-measures.Onecannotpartwiththismovingdocumentofourtimes, the testimonyofLeber,nomatterhowdeepthenightandonelaysitasidewiththeapproachingdawn,wheeledwithagreatpainbutanequallygreatdeterminationnevertoletithappenagain.Asectionof thePrajaSocialist Partywill seek to deaden itsthinking by its unintelligent appeals toMarxism.Another sectionmaymake equally unintelligentappeals toGandhism.Marx andGandhiwill havethuslivedinvain,fortheirmistakesanddistortionswilllivewhilethetruthinthemwillperish.Allhumanthinkingistodaymarkedlybesetbythedangersofchorusesofaccusationanddefenceandthereisverylittleattempttounderstand.Inthedebrisofaccusationanddefensearelitteredaboutvariousmeaningsoflifeandinterpretationsofhistory,relationshipsbetweenspiritualism andmaterialism, economic analysisof capitalism and the forms of class-struggle andhypothesesraisedintolawsofhumancivilization.

The Praja Socialist Partymust seek tomake anew house for the humanmind, for all existingstructures are broken. Itmustwant to build thetheoryofsocialismasmuchasitshouldexpressthewilltopower.Thetasknolongerisoneofrepairingor reforming the existing civilisation.Humanity isyearningforanewcivilisationandanewmeaningtolife.Totheextentthatthenewpartywillexpressthisinchoateyearninginthetheoriesofprincipleswillitbeabletodischargeitsinternationalobligations.Totheextentthatitexpressesandfortifiesthewilltopowerwillitexecutenationalresponsibilities.Theevolutionof theory and thewill topower are interdependentexercisesandthriveononeanother.

[September 1952]


WiththisissueDr.Ehrenfelscompleteshispleaforpreferentialrightsforwomen.Somewomenmaynotthemselves have liked such a plea because of itsassumptionthatwomanisinferiortomanincertainspheres.A large number ofmenmust have feltawkward,iffornootherreasonthanthattheywould,in thenewsituation, inherit theirnames from theirmotherratherthanfromtheirfather.Butthisproblemofwomanmustnotbetreatedontheleveloftemporaryannoyances;itmustbetackledasitsroot.Womanisundoubtedly among themost exploited sections ofhumanity, togetherwiththepoorestandlowliestofmen.Shemaytrytoforgetherconditionwithloveortrinkets and her charitable generosity. But uglypracticesofsocietyandcertaindarkrecessesofthesoulhavebothcombinedtoturnwomanintoaspherewhere socialism ismost needed. If socialism anddemocracyareabattleforequality,theyarecutoutspeciallyascreedsofwomen.Furthermore,thenewmodeof this battle for equality comprises of civildisobedience,whichalonepromisesanewcivilization,andmanwithoutwomanistotallyunsuitedforthisnewtypeoffight.Ifgroupsofwomeninconsiderablenumbersareeverpresentintheranksofcivilresisters,thepossibilityofdegenerationintostreetfightingorviolenceisgreatlyminimized.Womanisatrueragentof civil resistance thanman. She is undoubtedlysuperiortomaninthisasinotherspheresofgenerosity.Whenaschemeofpreferentialrightsisdemandedforher,thatisinnowayastigmaoratraducing.Rightsmorethandutiesbelongtothesphereofpoliticsandpoliticalactionbelongstothesphereoforganization.Inthesphereoforganization,manisthesuperiorofwoman.An attemptmust bemade to reduce thissuperiorityinsuchmeasureasispossiblethroughascheme of preferential rights forwomen.Humaningenuitymaybeable topropoundaschemeotherthanthatoutlinedbyDr.Ehrenfels.Dr.Ehrenfelshadonce given an exceedingly interesting slant on theoverwhelmingpresenceofMalayalisinDelhianditscentralgovernment.DelhiitselfhaslotsoffunaboutitsdiseasewhichitrollickinglycallsMenongitis,andDr.Ehrenfels thinksthatMenons,NairsandPillaismake suchwonderful secretaries to governmentministerspreciselybecausetheyhavebeenbrought

Preferential Rights for Womenupinamatrilinealtradition.Menbroughtupinthematrilinealtraditionlearntheartoflifeandadjustmentwiththeirmother’smilk,fortheyhavetoadjusttheirway through the triple authorityof themother, thefather and thematernal uncle.This gives them anunexampledcapacityforadjustment.Adjustmentandcreativityareundoubtedlytwodifferentcapacitiesandneithershouldbesacrificedtotheother.Itisthereforeofdecidingconsequencethattheproblemsofmanandwoman, ofmatrilineal and patrilineal society, ofadjustment and creativity, of the demand forpreferentialrightsforwomanshouldbedeeplystudiedinorderthatwoman’sinequalitymaybereducedtotheminimum and that shemay help banish themethodsofviolencefromhumanpursuits.Themoreenduringproblemsofmankindtendtosufferneglectagainstthecacophonyrousedbypassingeconomicorinternationalproblemsoftheday.Buttheproblem,forinstance,ofthesinglewomanoftodayorofthestep-childiscertainlymoreenduringandconsequentialtomankind thanmanyotherswhichareconstantlycausingcontroversy.Crueltyisastateofthehumanmind, asmuch as it is an expression of certaineconomicandpoliticalrelationships.Aslongasmanlivesandthereisfamilyandmarriage,thestep-childwouldbethere,perhapsindiminishingnumbers,anditssoulmustbeprotectedagainstanykindofcruelty.Howoftenisthesoulofastepchildoftenderyearssingedbyacallouswordoradiscriminatingdeedfromits parents, one ofwhom is a substitute and hasreceivedlateradmittanceintothefamily.Similarly,thesinglewomanoftodayisanextraordinarypersonand deserves deeper study andmore sympathetictreatmentthanshehassofarreceived.Sheisprobablynomoreunhappythanmanymarriedwomenand,iftherearesomeexceedinglyhappyonesinherranks,theycanbematchedbytheranksofthemarried.Thesinglewoman of today differs from themarriedwomannot in theextentof thisor thatemotionorqualitybutinthatshehasanentirelydifferentstatus.Hernumberskeeponsteadilyincreasing.Thesinglewomanneednotnecessarilybealonelywoman,buther status does deserve to be studiedwith greatestsympathyandobjectivity.Thethoughtofhermakesonetender.Shemaybelikeasunlessdaywhichis


always on the verge of rain or like themoonlightfilteringthroughcasuarinaleavesorshemayalternatebetween the two states. In either case, her statusrequiresdeepstudy.Aslongasitisnotpossibleforwoman to bathe herself into purity afterwadingthroughamireofdirt,inthestyleofFlaubert,atwilland throughpaymentofa fewpiecesof silver, theoverwhelminglonelinessthatoccasionallyovertakesthe singlewomanof today and the cruelty that anunthinking societymetes out to her deserve theattentionofsociologistsaswellaspoets.Soalsothewidowistherecipientofmuchcrueltyinalltheworld,but she is overwhelmingly so in India.The 1951census counted a total of 1,34,000widows out of61,18,000 females between the ages of five andfourteen.Withwidowhoodgoesthestigma,tosaytheleast,ofbadluckinalltheworld,anddefinitelysoinIndia,wherenearly13percentofallmarriedfemalesarewidows.Thechildwidowislikeasinglewomanwith the possible difference that she ismore of arainless but cloudy day and less of casuarinamoonlight.Widows,notyetoldandparticularlythosewhohavenomalechildren,becometherecipientsofspecialcrueltyand,ifthesinglewomanissometimesresignedly disconsolate about life, thewidow isdisconsolatelyresigned.Theconditionofthewidowhad,inthepast,excitedsympatheticattentioninthecountry.Inthebeginning,therewasafuroreagainstwidowremarriage.Thecontroversydiedout.Socialreformerswerehappythattheyhadwonyetanotherencounter.But India is a great big bog intowhicheverything sinks beyond recognition after havingcausedafewripplesandeddies.Arecentdisclosuremade byMr.GatubhaiDhruv, of aGujarat social

reformorganization,showedthatover1,200widowsofGujarathaddefied socialbarriers and remarriedsincethewidowremarriagelegislationwasenactedahundred years ago.That gives an average of tenwidowsremarriedeachyear.Thestoryisindeednotsobleak,forthebackwardcastesarenotsocruelwiththeirwidows,asarethehighcastes,andmuchhappensinthecountrywithoutanysocialorganisationbeinginvolvedinit.Nevertheless,aproblemofveryseriousimportexists.Itgoesmuchbeyondwidowremarriageandotherspecifiedsourcesofcruelty.WilltheIndianbogeverdryupsufficientlyorwillpersonsandpartiesbeabletodrivesuchfirmstakesintoitastorecoverfrom it some firm ground? Social reformers andrevolutionaries who are content with scoring adebatingpointoverconservativesandreactionariesmustlearntheirlessonproperly.Anendlessroundofprofitless controversywould otherwise go on inrelation to every subject of renewal.Every reformoccasionsaheatedcontroversyintheearlystagesandthen thatmassive societywhich is conservativeaccepts intellectual defeat by allowing a fewventuresome persons to go their ownway, on thefringes,inrespectofwidowremarriageorthesinglewoman and similar phenomena, while it isoverwhelminglyvictoriousinthatitkeepsunalteredthemainarenaoflife.Crueltyisthegreatestsourceof life’s ugliness. Its forms aremanifold. It hasburrowed itself into the darkest and the innermostrecesses of the humanmind through hundreds ofcenturies. Itmust be patiently ferreted out so asimpatientlytobedestroyed.Mankindhopestohavedocumentsandothercontributionsonthisandsimilartopicsofenduringcruelty.

[September 1956]

Caste ismost overwhelming factor in Indianlife.Thosewhodenyitinprinciplealsoacceptitinpractice.Lifemoveswithinthefrontiersofcasteandculturedmenspeakinsofttonesagainstthesystemofcaste,whileitsrejectioninactionjustdoesnotoccurto them. If they are reminded of their acts,whichareinsuchunbelievableconformitywithcaste,theypointoutwithindignationtheirthoughtandspeech.In

Castefact,theyhurlthechargeofcaste-mindednessagainstthosewhoremindthemoftheircastebehaviouronthepleathatwhile theyengageinahealthydebateonprinciplesandgreatoutlines, theircriticsvitiatethediscussionbybringingintoitthepollutedsphereof action. It is the critics, so they say,who createtheatmosphereofcaste.Whoknows if thestrangesplit between thought and action, characteristic of


Indianculturemorethanofanyother,isnottheresultpredominantlyofcaste.Anunalterableframeiswhatcaste is.To livewithin itmustnecessarilydemandagreatdealof ingenuity,of thinkingandacting indouble,trebleormorenumeroussets.

Thegreatfactsoflifesuchasbirth,death,marriage,feastsandotherritualsmovewithintheframeofcaste.Menbelongingtothesamecasteassistoneanotheratthesedecisiveacts.Menoftheothercastesarethereattheperiphery,moreorlessbystandersandonlookers.Acommonmistakemustberidofatthestart.Acertainamountofinter-casteactivityappearstohavetakenplaceinrecentdecadesinlargeareasofthecountry.Inthefirstplace,suchactivityisconfinedtothelesserritualsoffeastinganddoesnotextendtothemajorones ofwedding and child-bearing. Secondly, thisactivity is only superficially anddeceptively inter-caste.Variousgroupsofthehighcastearesometimesknown to feast orwed one another.But the greatschismbetweenthehigh-casteandthelow-caste isasgreatasever,ifnotgreater,inthesphereofrealcollective action.When people talk of inter-castemarriagesandthelike,theymerelymeanweddingsbetweengroupswithinthehigh-caste.

Casteispresumablytheworld’slargestinsuranceforwhich one does not pay a formal or regularpremium. The solidarity is always there, wheneverythingelsefails.Infact,therearefewoccasionsfor other things being tried out.Men just tend tomake friendswithin the caste, their familymostcertainly. Such a close solidarity at child-bearing,funeralobsequies,weddingsandother ritualsmustnecessarilyhaveitsconsequencesonotheraspectsoflifeincludingthepolitical.Itmust,infact,influenceandalmostdeterminethemindanditsbasicthought.Thepoliticalaspectsareeasily influenced.Whenacontinualget-together takesplaceonallmajorandpersonaleventsoflife,itwouldbesomewhatbizarreifpoliticaleventstookplaceoutsidethatframework.Whenmenarepuzzledatacastevotingmoreorlessalike, they behave as though they had come fromanotherplanet.Whatwouldoneexpectagrouptodothatlives,child-bears,weds,diesandfeaststogether?To thismost formidable list of common activitymust be added the stillmore decisive activity ofbread-earning,thecommonprofession.Evenwhere

thecommonprofessionisinsomewaysnolongeramarkofcertaincastes,theinformal,oftenlameandhalting, but almost unfailing scheme of insuranceagainstunemploymentprovidedbyone’sowncastecontinuestooperate.Ifthecastedidnotvotetogether,thatwouldbeapuzzle.Evensuchbreakawayfromcastevotingwhichhardly,ifever,goesupwardsof20percentisascribabletosomesubstitutesecuritythathasbeenfoundinplaceofcaste.

ThisdivisionofIndiansocietyintohundredsifnotthousandsofcastes,whichhaveapoliticalasmuchassocialsignificance,explainswhyIndiawiltsbeforeforeign armies.When shehas not sowilted in herhistory,ithasalmostalwaysbeenthoseperiodswhenthe bonds of castewere loose.Agreatmisreadingof Indian history is current.The tragic successionof foreign conquests, towhich the Indian peoplehavesuccumbed,isascribedtointernalquarrelsandintrigues.Thatisnonsense.Thelargestsinglecauseiscaste.Itrendersnineteenthsofthepopulationintoonlookers, in fact, listless and nearly completelydisinterestedspectatorsofgrimnationaltragedies.

Castes have endured over thousands of years.They have bred certain traits and aptitudes. Somekindof a selection has takenplace that is sociallyas significant as a natural selection.Certain skillsof trade, craft, husbandry or administration orhandlingofprincipleshavebecomehereditary.Arealbreakthroughisalmostalwaystheworkofagenius.With such castewise determination of skills, onemightexpectgreatadvantagestoflowoutofsuchage-longselections.Thatwouldhavebeensoifallskillsfetched an equal social status ormonetary reward.Theyobviouslydonot.Someskillsarebelievedtobe unbelievably superior to others and there is aninterminableseriesofstepsintheladder.Castesofinferiorskillsaredowngraded.Theycongealintoanalmostlifelessmass.Theyceasetobethereservoirfromwhichthenationmayrefreshandrenewitself.Numericallysmallcastesofthemostsuperiorskillsarethehabitualprovidersofthenation’sleadership.Inordertomaintaintheirmostunnaturaldominance,theybecomeaseethingmassofchicanerybutsurfaciallymostsmoothandcultured.Themassesare lifeless,theeliteareCastehasdonethat.


Astudy of castes in all its periods is not beingattempted here.We are only concernedwith thesystemofcasteasitistodayandasitprobablyhasbeen in all periods of national decline and casterigidity.Inasense,casteisauniversalphenomenon.ThetinybeginningsofitsrootswerelaidbarebyMr.Khrushchevwhenhebemoanedinpresent-dayRussia,theunwillingnessofpersonswithahighereducationto domanualwork.This rift betweenmanual andbrainworkandevaluationofoneas the lowerandtheotherasthehigherandtheincreasingcomplexityandpermanencyofthisriftarebehindtheformationofcaste.TheIndianexperienceofcastegoesfartherthanthatofanyothernationandalltheworldmayhavelessontolearnfromit.Atthemoment,weareconcernedwiththeterrifyingdamagecasteshavedoneIndiaandhowshemayridherselfofit.Theentirescaleofvalueshasbeenupset.Thehigh-castesareculturedandchicane,thelow-castesarestagnantandlifeless.What goes as scholarship in the country is but thenameofaspeechandgrammarratherthansubstanceofknowledge.Generosityisabridgedtomeanselfishappropriationthroughrestrictingitsroutetocasteandrelations.Tobegisbelievedtobelessshamefulthantodomanualwork,forthroughbeggaryofcertainhighertypes,thegiverisfavouredwithinestimablebenefitsintheotherworld.Craftiness,opensubmissionandsecretinsubordinationbecomethemarksofsuccessfulmenofstateratherthanthevirtuesofstraightdealingandbravery.Lieisenthronedasthesupremevirtueofpubliclife.Ageneralatmosphereoffraudprevails,fortoprotectcastemenandrelationsbecomesanaimratherthantoprotectjusticeandnationalwellbeing.Inessence theneedsofcasteareatwarwith thoseof thenation.Casteprevails,because it is theonlyreliablere-insuranceoftheindividualagainstcalamityorroutineill-being.

Theutterimbecilitytowhichcastehasbroughtthenationwastypifiedbytherecentandtotaldisrespectthat the PrimeMinister showed towards his owntongue. In thecourseofa fortnight,hemade threesolemndeclarations, once, never to retire, then, toretireand,again,nottoretire.Thathedoesnotholdmuchbyman’sgiftofspeechandthoughtispatent.That the nation does likewise is equally andmoreterrifying patent.Howcan the nation tolerate suchimbecility?Partlybecauseofcaste,whichblursthe

vision,andofthegreatschismbetweenthehighandlowcaste,whichmakesthehigh-castessticktogetherthrough lie and deceit and evenmurder in certainsituations.Awordofunconsciousinsight,however,fellfromthePrimeMinister’slips.Hebewailedthathewassopopularandyetthepeopledidnotactashewantedthemto.Thiswasoneofthoserareoccasions,whenMr.Nehrutellsthetruth.

Wherein lies themysteryof thischasmbetweengreatpopularity andequallygreat importance.Themanisjustnotpreparedtoriskhispopularityforthesakeofanybigchange.MahatmaGandhiknewhowtoriskhispopularity.Hehadacalf,thechildofthesacredcow, injected todeath inacertainsituation,hehadamonkeyshot,hetookHarijansintotemples,herefusedtoattendweddingsunlesstheywereinter-caste,hesanctioneddivorce,hehadthelargesumof55croresandmoregiventoPakistanatatimewhenHindusheldthattreasonable,heactedandnotalonespokeagainstproperty,inbrief,hehardlyevermisseddoinganythingthatbroughtnewlifetothenationevenifitbroughtcalumnyanddangertohim.Nothinggreatevergotdonewithoutenragingsomepeople.Thegreatchangesofsocietyarealwaysaccomplishedaftersomesectionsofopinion,sometimeslarge,arethoroughlyangered.Theoldcanalwayscommandvotaries;onlytheirnumberdiffersinvaryingsituations.Theskillofagreatleaderliesinnarrowingthenumbersofthosewhomheangersandthedurationoftheiranger.Butanger them, hemust.Hemust risk his popularitywith them,althoughthatmayeventuallybringhimanincreasedreputation.ThePrimeMinister,likeanyothertypicalproductofthecastesysteminthecountry,iscongenitallyincapableofriskinghispopularityforthesakeofanychange.

Thesystemofcastesisaterrifyingforceofstabilityandagainstchange,aforcethatstabilizesallcurrentmeanness,dishonourandlie.Anunholyfearprevails,lest,ifsomemeannessorlieweretotumblethewholestructuremight topple.Post-freedom India is but astrictcontinuanceofBritishIndia inmostessentialways.TheIndianpeoplecontinuetobedisinherited.Theyareforeignersintheirownland.Theirlanguagesaresuppressedandtheirbreadissnatchedawayfromthem.Allthisisdonefortheallegedsakeofcertainhighprinciples.Andtheseprinciplestieupwiththe


systemof caste, the great chasmbetween the fewhighcastesandthefourhundredmillionofthelowercastes.These high castesmustmaintain their rule,bothpoliticalandeconomicand,ofcourse,religious.Theycannotdoitalonethroughthegun.Theymustinstil a sense of inferiority into thosewhom theyseektogovernandexploit.Thistheycanbestdobyturning themselves into a select castewith speech,dress,mannersandlivingofwhichthelowercastesareincapable.TheattitudeofIndia’spoliticalpartiesisgovernedbythissupremeconsiderationofhavingtoinstilacomplexofinferiorityamongthemassofthepeople.Peoples’languagesareundeveloped,theirhousingandgeneralstylesoflivingincapacitatethemfromgoodorgreatactionandtheirmindisnotworthconsidering.Somustthehighcastesweavethenetofillusion.CurrentpoliticalopinionsinIndia,becausetheyreflectthefalseandunnaturalinterestsofthehighcastes,arenotworthyofconsideration.

The political behaviour of the lower caste isamazing.Whytheyshouldbecomeawillingpartofthisconspiracyisbeyondunderstanding.Onereasonisclearenough.Castegivestheminsurance,indeed,onlessthanananimallevel,morethanitdoestothehigh-castes.Theywouldfeelhelplesswithoutit.Oft-times,onegetstheimpressionabouttheselowercastesasthoughtheirstrenuouslabourofthedaywerebutapreparationforthecastefeastsandritualsthataretofollow.Theyaretherealthingandallelseisbuta shadow.Anything that interfereswith themmustappeartothemashighlyundesirable.Theyhaveinfactlegendsandmythsthatjustifytheirlowlysituationandtransformitintoasymbolofsacrificeandlustre.TheKahars,variouslyknownasMallahs,Kaivarts,Naviks,who probably numbermore than a crore,tellstoriesabouttheirmythicalancestors,whoweresimple,ungreedy,braveandgenerousandwholosttootherancestorsofKshatriyasandotherhighcastesbecauseof theirgreatergreed,wiliness anddeceit.Takenso,theircurrentlifeofmiserymustappeartothelowercastesasanunendingsuccessionofsacrificialactsforthesakeofhighprinciples.Thissacrificeisformythicalsymbols.Itisundertakennotasanactiveprinciplethatseekschangebutasapassivesubmissionto the existing. Such sacrifice has nomeaning inhistory.But sacrifice is always consoling.Talkingof theseMallahsandKaharswhoareboatmenand

fishermenwhenthereiswater,anddomesticservantswhenfurtherinland,onemustmentiontheirinordinatecapacitytoholdtheirbreathwhiledivingunderwaterinsearchoftheedibleMakhana.Mallahboysoftenandunderbecomeactivepracticantsofdeepbreathingyoga,andthatunderwater,whichcanholdinasinglebreath forfifteenminutes andmore. Similar yogisamongthehighcaste,ofseeminglyliteratespeechorrefineddress,wouldprobablyholdthattheirmindisstrivingtobeavacuityduringtheiryoga,whiletheMallahboy’sisnot.Asitisnotpossibleforanyonepersontogointothemindsofboththesetypes,itisdifficulttohazardanopinion.Maynotthemindsbealikeineithersituation?Iftheyaresoutterlydifferentastheyareclaimedtobe,thatiscondemnationenoughofthecastesystem.

Thepoliticalbehaviourofthelowercasteswouldappeartobealittlelessinexplicableontheassumptionthatalongtraditionofideologicalsubjectionhasmadethemstagnate.Thisassumption iswholly founded.Centurieshaveinstilledintothemameekacceptanceof the existing, aversion to change, stickingwiththecasteintimesofadversityasofgoodluck,andthesearchforhighlifethroughworship,ritualsandgeneralpoliteness.Thiscanchange.Infact,thismustchange.The revolt against caste is the resurrectionofIndiaorshallwesay,thebringingintobeingofauniqueandahithertounrealizedoccasion,whenIndiashallbetrulyandfullyalive.Issucharevoltpossible?Scholarsmaywithrightdenyit.Menofactionwillcontinuetoaffirmit.Somehopeofsuccessarisesatthepresent time.Theattackoncaste isnot single-barrelled.Itdoesnotclimaxintoashrillcrydevoidofaction.Itisinfactaspoliticalasitissocial.Fromthepoliticalattackoncaste,inthesenseofdrawingthenation’sleadershipfromallthecastesinthecountry,maycomethatrevolutionwhichgivestoallIndiansocietythesolidarityandre-insurancenowgiventosmallergroupsbycaste.

Elsewhere may be found extracts from theconstitutionandtheannualreportoftheCalcuttaClub.ThisclubisthetopmeetinggroundoftheCalcuttabourgeoisie,which is the largest segment of theIndianbourgeoisie.Itsmainactivitycentersaroundwineimbibing,whileitspatronisthePresidentoftheRepublic.India’sRepublicispledgedtothepolicyof


prohibitionwithveryconsiderablepolicerepressionasaconsequenceincertainareas.ThatthePresidentofanalcoholrepressingrepublicshouldbethepatronofanalcoholdrinkingclub,isameasureoffraudandperfidywhichIndia’shighercastesarepracticinguponthecountryandthemselves.ThePresident,butmoreso,thegovernmentwhichadviseshimareguiltyoftreasonagainsttherepublicinayetmoremajorway.EuropeansinIndiaareoneinthreethousandandmoreofthepopulation.OfCalcutta’spopulation,theyaresurelynomorethanoneinfourhundred.TheyenjoyfargreatercomfortandsecuritythananysectionofIndia’spopulation.Andyettheyareaccordedequalrepresentation on the committee of this club.Thisequalityofrepresentationisguaranteedbytheclub’sstatutes.

TheclubcontinuestothinkthatEngland’smonarchstill rules India through her viceroy, although thePresident of theRepublic is its patron. Somemaybe inclined to pass this over as a relic of the pastwhichhasescapednotice.Theseactsare in realitythe result of deliberate design. India’s bourgeoisieiseverimperiled.Avastseaofmiserablehumanitysurgesaroundit.Itclutchesatallkindsofsymbolsoldandnewandallkindsofauthoritybothsubstantialandemptyinordertokeepitselfafloat.India’shighercastesandtheirgovernmenthavethereforetopracticecontinuallytreasonagainsttheirRepublic.

Afarcesymptomaticofthepresentsetupofthehigher caste in the countrywas recently staged inthisclub.India’sbusinessclassesarelargelyBania,whileherprofessionalclassesconsistofBrahminandKayasthawith theBaddisofBengal throwninandtheEuropeansenjoytheirplaceofhonourineitherrank.ABaniarecentlyaskedforadmissionintothisclub.Inpre-FreedomIndia,hewouldprobablynothavemadethisrequest,forthebusinessclasseswerelargelynationalistwhile the topof theprofessionalclasses was largely pro-British. The Banias arenowtryingtomakeupforlosttime.Thisapplicantclaimedtobelongto theHouseofTantiasandwaspromptlyblackballedpresumablyalsobytheBritishpresidentof theclub,Mr.Blease,whosaidhehadheardoftheBirlasandTatasbutnotoftheTantias.An older brother of this gentleman is the newly

electedTreasurer of theCongress ParliamentaryParty.AllestimableBaniasofsomewhatnationalisticrecordarenowtryingtoacquireculturewhichtheyhadnotsofardoneeitherbecauseoftheirhurrytomakemoneyorbecauseofGandhiji.Mr.Biralandhisfamilyhavealsochanged.FromtheclosedcollarJodhpursoftheGandhieratheyhavenowtravelledtothecoatandtieoftheEuropean.Theyrunschoolswhere littlechildrenarecharged themost fantasticfees.OnesuchschoolisironicallyenoughnamedtheHindiSchool,while itsmost privileged section ofchildrenfromtheageoffiveonwardsistaughtalonethroughthemediumofEnglish,andisnotpermittedtotalkanyotherlanguage.Wearedefinitelylivinginaclimateofnightmares,somewhatsubduedandnotsharpenough.Tothesemenofmoney,nowinhurryforculture,theCalcuttaClubmustbeappearingasa paradise of romance and enlightenment. Itmustappear so to themass of people.There gather toplawyers,thetopexecutives,thetopcaptainsoftradeand industry, occasionallywith their fair ladies ofperfumed breath and sparking jewels. If only thepeopleknewtheCalcuttaClubasanyothercluboftheIndianbourgeoisieforwhatitactuallyis,ajointofwinebibbers,bribetakersandbribegivers,andpimpsandofpurveyorsofstatejokesandmonkeyEnglish,theywouldreposetheirdreamofenlightenmentandforromanceinworthierplaces.

ForeignrulesettheHinduagainsttheMuslim,butthatdoesnotruboutthediscordwhichnativereligionshadcreatedinthecountry.Thepolicyofdivideandrule,which governments pursue,must fasten onalreadyexistingelementsofdecision.BritishruleinIndiahadmadeuseoftheelementofcasteinthesamemannerthatitmadeuseoftheelementofreligion.Asthedivisiveforceofcastewasnotnearlyasstrongasthatofreligion,theeffortmetlimitedsuccess.

TheMarathaPartyinWesternIndiaandalsothatoftheScheduledCastes,theJusticePartyintheSouthand themission-led block ofAdivasis in EasternIndiawerefruitsofthiseffort.TothemmustalsobeaddedtheblockofnativeprincesandbiglandlordsinEasternIndia,whichfollowedtheleadofforeignrule and, during its last days, appeareddiscreditedbeyondrecovery.


At the time the Britishmade this effort, theywerejustifiablycondemned.Foreignrulehabituallyaccentuates andwidens differences; it does notcompose them. Itmust be condemned. But suchcondemnationdoesnotremovethegroundonwhichdifferences originate and thrive. British rule hasendedbutthecastepartiesthatitgavebirthtohavecontinuedintofreeIndiaandareenjoyingfreshaccessof strength.TheWorkers and Peasants Party andtheRepublicanPartyofWesternIndia,theDravidaMunnetraKazhagamofSouthIndiaandtheJharkhandParty ofEastern India alongside of theGanatantraandJanatapartiesarenotonly regionalpartiesbutalsocasteparties.Infact,theyrepresentandembodyregionalcastes.Theseregionalcastesaredecisivelynumerousintheirarea.TheAdivasisofChotaNagpurare the life-bloodof the Jharkhand, theMahars oftheRepublicans, theMarathas of theWorkers andPeasants,theMudaliarsbutalsoothernon-Brahminsof theDravidaMunnetra, and theKshatriyas, notnearlyasmuchoftheGanatantraandtheJanata.

Apatriot and a progressivewould look askanceatthegrowthofpartiesofregionalcaste,evenwhentheydonaradicalgarb.Theircapacitytodisintegratedarenotbeoverlooked.Theydisintegratethepeople.Theydisintegrate themind.What, however, is theuseofrecognitionbyothercastesofthiscapacitytodisintegrate?Thecastethatbecomestheinstrumentofsuchdisintegrationmustrecognizeit.Whencanitdoso?Thatraisesthequestionofinjurythatcasteshavedonetosocietyor,inotherwords,theinjurythatsocietyhasdonetothecaste,whichisinapositiontohitbackanddoesso.

ThecastesthatwenttoformtheMaratha,JusticeorScheduledCastepartiessufferedill-treatmentfromsociety.TheBritishrulersmadeuseofthissenseofgrievanceandinjury,averybaduseindeed,buttheydidnotandcouldnothavecreatedit.Thatiswhytheproblemhaspersisted.Insomecases,thecastethathassufferedtheinjuryandthatwhichhascausedithavechangedplaces.Butthatdoesnotsolvetheproblemofinjury.Furthermore,numberlesscasteshaveyettomakethemselvesvocalandeffectiveandare todaycontenttoplayapassiveorasubsidiaryroletothecontendinggiants.Thisisthechiefsourceofinjuryandinjustice.

Thepoliticalinter-playofcasteshasunfoldeditselffascinatinglyinMaharashtraandthedramaisnotyetover.Until 1930 and a little after, theMaharashtrascenewas bafflingly simple, and its backdropwasBrahmin versus the rest. The succeeding periodof around twenty-five years has done nothing todiminishtheamazingsimplicityofthescene.Onlythedominatingcastehaschanged.ThebackdropistodayrepresentedbyMarathaversustherest.

TheMarathasareapeculiarcasteofMaharashtra,who claim to beKshatriyas but aremore like thecultivator-Sudras ofNorth India.They have beenthe largest single downgraded caste of that area.Additionally,West India has newVaishyas andKshatriyasandtheKayasthastooarenegligible,sothattheDwijaorthehighcastearelargelyrepresentedby theBrahmin.TheMarathawas the spearheadof the revolt against theBrahmin inMaharashtraalthoughother down-graded castes assisted him invarying degrees.The revoltwas pro-British in thebeginning,becausetheBrahminswereonthewholeanti-British, but the nationalistmovement provedstrongenoughtoabsorbit.TheMarathaenteredthepartyofnationalism,theCongressParty,andalmosttook it over.The phenomenon of caste exclusionwaswitnessed again,with the roles changed.Ontheonehand, theBrahminbegangradually to losehismonopolyof political power and, on theother,theMarathadidnot share his new found authoritywith the other downgrade castes.The change ofthe earlier situation,Brahmin versus the rest,wasnaturalenough.WhenthedustoftopicalcontroversyhassettleddownandmenareabletogobehindthedisputebetweenabilingualstateforMaharashtraandGujaratandaunilingualstateforMaharashtraalone,theequallystrongdrivingforceofcastewillbelaidbare.Thereisnoneedtodenytheforceoflanguage.Withitisalsomixedtheequallypotentforceofcaste.Bilingualismand thegovernmentparty,whichwasearliertherevoltingnationalistparty,isrepresentedby theMaratha.Unilingualism and the SamyuktaMaharashtraSamiti,whichisnowthepartyofdissentagainst the government, is representedby the rest.The subterranean forces of caste havebeen all toopowerfulinthisdramasurfaciallyaroundlanguage.TheBrahmin,who has increasingly been losingpoliticalpower,andthedown-gradedcastesotherthan


Maratha,whichhavefeltleftout,havebeenyearningforanopportunitytohitout.TheirearlierefforttohitoutontheGoaissue,whentheBrahminShanwarpetofPoonahadforawhileagainbecometheculturalcapitalofMaharashtra,provedacurtain-raisertothepresentlanguageeffort.

TheMarathas have themselves to thank for thisdevelopment.Theyprovedtobeagreedyforpowerandmonopolisticasany.Theyusedtherevoltofthedown-graded castes for the assertion of their ownsupremacyandnotforthedestructionofcastesassuchandtheinjusticethatgoeswiththem.Everandeveragain,therevoltofthedown-gradedcasteshasbeenmisusedtoupgradeoneoranothercasteratherthantodestroytheentireedificeofcaste.TheMarathacouldperhapsnothaveacteddifferently.TheBrahmin isperhapsagainrepeatinghisearliermentality.ThoughtheSamitiiscomposedoftherestversustheMarathaoftheCongressParty,theleadershipoftheSamitiispreponderantlyBrahmin.ShouldtheSamiticometopower, thewheelmayperhaps again revolve to itsearlierpointofBrahminversustherest.Inaneconomywherethereisverylittle inauthorityandevenlessinmoney, the scramble is hard, far-sight almostimpossible andgroup cohesiveness an inescapableneed.Istherethennowayout?Isthewheelexactlyidentical?

Whendisputesrepeatthemselveswithoutamove-on andwith continuing stagnation, lethargyof thespirit is inevitable.A likelier outcome, however, isan increasingly improving regrouping.Evenwhilethe present conflict is on and before it has beenresolved,theMarathaoftheCongressPartymaybeabletomakepoliticalfriendswithsomeoftherestandtheBrahminoftheSamitimaylikewiseacquireagenuinethoughlimitedkinshipwiththerest.Suchadevelopmentwillnot,however,beasprobableastheemergenceofanewnucleusaroundwhichmenofallcastesmaygatherwiththedeterminationtoendcaste.Thenucleusisperhapsalreadythere.Itscapacitytoattractthepeoplemaytaketimetomanifestitself.Infact,itmaytrulyexpressitselfonlyattheendofthepresentandthesucceedingconflicts.

The exclusion of the high caste from politicalpower does not necessarily imply their exclusion

fromeconomicandothertypesofpower.Inthefirstplace,suchpoliticalexclusionhasnowherebeentotal,notevenintheSouth.TheBrahminshaveinrecentyears, as the sole representative of the high caste,been increasingly eliminated from legislative andadministrativepowerinTamilnad.Evenso,theystilloccupyafantasticallyprivilegedposition.Althoughonly4percentofthepopulation,theirshareinthegazettedservicesoftheadministrationmustbearoundfortypercent.Atonetime,itwasnearlyseventypercent.AsecondmoreremarkabledevelopmentistheacquisitionofeconomicpowerbytheTamilBrahmin.HehasincreasinglybeenbuyingupMountRoadfromtheretiringBritish.Itwouldthereforebenotcorrecttodescribethehighcastesintermsofanygeneraldeclineortobemoantheirfateinanypartofthecountry.

TheTamil situation is very intriguing.Elementsofthenon-BrahminandtheDravidamovementhaveinfluencedaliketheCongressandtheanti-Congressparties. Both theDravidaKazhagams are openlyDravidian.Sois theCongressParty inaconcealedandsomewhatmilderway.AllfourelementsoftheDravidamovement,BrahminVersus non-Brahmin,AryanVersusDravidian,NorthVersus South andHindiVersusTamilarepresentinvaryingdegreealikeintheCongressandtheanti-Congressmovements.Not being obstructed by all-India considerationsunliketheCongressParty,theantiCongressDravidianmovementsarefiercerintheiroppositiontotheNorth,HindiortheBrahminsasthesituationdemands.

But that is only the difference of degree.And,being the government party, theCongressParty issomewhatmoreeffective,althoughitsabsorptionoftheDravidianspiritisindeedmorediscriminating.

Aconfidentforecastofthefutureismadesomewhatdifficult by the absenceof clearly stated economicprogrammes.Theanti-CongressDravidianpartiesareevenmorefuzzythantheCongressPartyinrespectofeconomicprogrammes.Someofthemhaveevenallowed themore illusoryNorth-South and similarprejudicestoobscureandweakenthesubstantialcasteissue.AhappyoutcomewouldhavebeenifboththeDravidianstreams,freedastheyalreadyhavebeenofhighcasteinfluence,hadincreasinglyridthemselvesofgeographicalandlinguisticprejudicesandaimed


single-mindedlyatthedestructionofcasteandifonehadtendedtoadoptconservativeandcapitalistandtheotherradicalandsocialisteconomicpolicies.

Alikelierandharmfuldevelopmentwouldbethefurther accumulation of prejudices. If it acceptedthatIndia’seconomicconditionincludingthatoftheSouthandTamilnad isnot likely to improve in thenextdecadeandmore,thestageissetforexplosivelyirrational politics.The peoplemay lend their earmoreandmoretocriesofgeographicalandlinguisticoppositions. Political partieswould not be humanif theydidnotexploit suchopportunities to rise topower.Thelikeliestdevelopmentissomewhatmorehopeful.Itmaytaketimetounfolditselffully.WhiletheemptygameoftheprejudiceisplayedoutbetweentheCongressandtheanti-Congressparties,increasingsections of the people may begin to yearn forwholesomepositiveandconcreteprogrammes.Suchaprogrammewouldhavetobaseitselfonsocialistprinciplesintheeconomicsphereand,inthesocialsphere, on the total destruction of caste. Itwouldthereforemake use of the healthier aspect of theDravidian spiritwhile itwould try to absorb theindividualBrahmin, equallywith the non-Brahminintothecomingsocialorder.Itwouldforsometimetocomehavetoaimatthedestructionofhighcasteprivileges even through the award of preferentialtreatment to the backward castes.DevelopmentssomewhatfurthernorthintheAndhraPradeshhavebeen, inasense,ofgreater interest.TheReddysofAndhraareacrossbetween theKshatriyasand theAhirsofnorthIndia,eitherofwhomarealmostabsentfromtheAndhrascene,andhavedefinitelybecomethemostinfluentialsinglecasteoftheirstate.Theyare,therulingcasteofAndhraparexcellencebuttheyhavebeenelasticenoughnotwhollytodispleasetheBrahminswhom they ousted frompolitical powerandhavebeenwiseenoughtosharetheirpowerwithsmallercastesliketheVelmas.Theyhave,however,beenunabletomakefriendswiththeKammas,acastealmostwhollysimilar to theKurmisofnorthIndiaboth in respectof theirappellationand their soundcultivator status.Economically somewhat enabledandpoliticallydisabled,theKammasofAndhrahavebeen somewhat restless in the past decade.Theyhave almost as an entire caste sought to revengethemselvesontheReddysthroughtheinstrumentof

theCommunistParty.Havingfailedinthateffortatleastforthetimebeing,theymightmakeonemorebidthroughtheinstrumentalityofProf.RangabeforetheymaketheirsecondbidthroughtheCommunistParty.

Whenwould theAndhra political scene shift tothemost numerousbut the least influential castes?ThesearetheKapus,thePadmashalis,theMalasandMadigas, in fact, the combinationwhich has fromtimetotimebeenknownastheChettySangham.TheKapusarethemostnumerouscultivatingcaste,theyare very poor occupancy tenants, and even poorersharecropperswhentheyarenotactuallyagriculturallabourers.InordertoputenergyandactivityintothismassofKapusapoliticalpartywouldhavetoarisethatfreesitselfalmostwhollyfromthestrangleholdof the landowningReddy and theKamma castes.Suchapartywouldhave toaimat theabolitionofsharecroppingand,asafirststep,perhapsattheawardofone-thirdorevenlesstothelandownerandtheresttothecultivator.TheCommunistPartyhasnotbeensuchapartyandperhapscanneverbecomesuch.Itisfartoomuchofalandowningparty,notsomuchthebiglandownersasthesmallerones.Ithasindeedachieved remarkable success in acquiring for itselftheloyaltyoftheagriculturallabourers,whoarebyand large theHarijan castes.This phenomenon ofHarijanloyaltytotheCommunistPartyprevailsoverallofsouthIndia.Notunlessanewnucleusemerges,whichwagesKapushare-croppers’strugglesasmuchastheHarijanwage-earners’struggles,wouldtherebeanychanceofenliveningthelargemassofAndhrapopulationorofcausingashiftinHarijanloyalty.

The rise of regional and caste parties like theJharkhand andGanatantra embodies exceptionallysingularphenomena.TheJharkhandhasalmostneverfought for the rights ofAdivasis or forest-dwellersnoragainsttheviciouslawsorpracticesthatoppressthem.Infact,theSocialistsandsimilarpersonshavefoughtfor themincertainareas.Andyet theyvotefor the Jharkhand, because it liveswith them, eatsanddanceswiththem,sorrowsandmakesmerrywiththemandisgenerallyapartofthem.Casteinthisasincertainothercases,hasdrivenawedgebetweenpoliticalandsocialkinship.Notunlessthepoliticalandeconomicpartiesofnationalreachlearntolivesocially,intheirbirthsandweddingfeastsanddeaths,


withdifferentcastesandtribes,willtheybeabletowrestfrompartiesliketheJharkhandtheirundoubteddominionoverselectareas.

TheGanatantratellsasomewhatdifferentstory.Itisnotthestoryofacontinuingdarkness.Itisthestoryofalightthathasbeenblownout,ofarelapse.ThenewtyrantsoftheCongressPartyhaveprovedsoirksomeand,inareas,sofoultothepeoplethattheyarewillingtooptfortheiroldtyrants,therajasandthelandlords.TheCongressPartyhastrulybrokenitswordtothepeople.TheOrissa evidence is incontestable. It isdifficult topredict thefuture.Thepeoplemaywellrisktheirfatewiththeirformertyrantsonceagaininsheerdisgust.Thisand theensuingdisillusionmentmaywelltakeanothertenyearstorunoutitscourse.Or somemiracle of rapid development throughoutthecountrymaywellcompresstheeventsofadecadeintothecompassofayearortwo.Inanyevent,thenewnucleusofcastelessloyalty,truetoitspledgedwordandunsulliedwiththeallianceoftheoldornewtyrants,mustbetheretobindthepeople,whentheyareready.

HowdoesthisnewnucleusdifferfromtheCongressandCommunist parties in respect of its attitudetowardscaste?Everybodyisagainstcastethesedays.And yet caste flourishes, in someways, as neverbefore.Eminent sociologists likeMaxWeber haveproved thoroughlywrong in their prognosticationsabout this virus.They had thought that Europe-educatedIndiansbredtorationalconceptsandwaysoflife,woulddestroycasteontheirreturnhome.Littledid they realise that theseEurope-returned Indianswouldbedrawnoverwhelminglyfromtheranksofthehigh-casteandwouldfurtherreinforcethecastesystemwithitsexclusivemarriagesbecauseoftheireducationandhighstatus.Speechagainstcastemaywellgowithactsinfurtheranceofit.

Threedistincttypesofoppositiontocastemaybenoted,onewordy, thesecondlowlevelandmixed,andthethirdreal.Thewordyoppositionistheloudestin respect of such generalised condemnation ofcasteasleavestheexistingstructurealmostintact.Itcondemnsthecastesystemaswhollyevil,butwouldequally condemn thosewho resort to active stepstodestroythesystem.Itsanctifiestheprinciplesof

risingstandardsof livingandofmeritandequalityofopportunityassolventsofcaste.Raiseeverybodyeconomically;giveeverybodyanequalopportunity!Sosaythesefalseadvocatesofdestructionofcaste,as thoughrisingstandardsandopportunitieswouldberestrictedtothelowcaste.Wheneverybodyhasanequalopportunity, casteswith thefive thousandyearoldtraditionsofliberaleducationwouldbeontop.Only the exceptionally gifted from the lowercasteswouldbeabletobreakthroughthistradition.This is what India’s political parties, Congress,Communist andPrajaSocialist, underMr.Nehru’sleadershiphaveinmind.Theywouldwantmenandwomenofexceptionalabilityfromthelowercastestojointheirranks.Buttheywouldwantthestructureas awhole to be kept intact.They are themselvesdrawnoverwhelminglyfromthehighercastes.Theyhavenohesitation indenouncing theircasteor thedistinctionofhighand lowcastes, so longas theirsocialgroupbasedontraditions,abilityandmannersisleftunaffected.Ifanybodyqualifiesinabilityandmannersfromamongthelowercastes,heiswelcome.Buthowmanywouldqualify!Veryfew.Itwouldbethebattleoffivethousandyearsofoppressivetrainingand tradition against an individual talent.Only thegenius or the exceptionally ablewouldwin in thisbattle.Tomakethisbattleasomewhatequalencounter,unequalopportunitieswouldhavetobeextended,tothosewhohavesofarbeensuppressed.ButIndia’spoliticalpartiesofasurfaciallyEuropeanorientationunder the leadership of that pseudo-European,Mr.Nehru,raiseagruesomeshoutagainstthisdoctrineofunequalopportunitiesasablasphemyontheirowndoctrineofimportedandvestedinterestsocialism.

Avested interest socialism talksofpoliticalandeconomicrevolutionalone,meaningtherebytheawardofincreasedwagesorbonusonthelowestlevelandthe destructionof private property in factories andthelikeonthehighestlevel.EvenintheEuropeofchangingclasses,sucharevolutionwouldkeepintactthe distinction betweenmanualworkers and thosewiththebrain.InIndiaoffixedcastes,thisdistinctionwouldspellruintothehealthofsociety.WorkerswiththebrainareafixedcasteinIndiansociety;togetherwiththesoldiercaste,theyarethehigh-caste.Evenafterthecompletedeconomicandpoliticalrevolutiontheywouldcontinue tosupply themanagersof the


stateandofindustry.Themassofthepeoplewouldbekept ina stateofperpetualphysicalandmentallowliness,atleastcomparatively.Butthepositionofthehigh-castewouldthenbejustifiedongroundsofabilityandineconomictermsasitisnowongroundsof birth or talent. That is why the intelligentsiaof Indiawhich is overwhelmingly the high-caste,abhorsalltalkofamentalandsocialrevolutionofaradicalchangeinrespectoflanguageorcasteorthebasesofthought.It talksgenerallyandinprincipleagainst caste. In fact, it can bemost vociferous inits theoretical condemnationof caste, so long as itcanbe allowed to be equally vociferous in raisingthebannerofmerit andequalopportunity.What itlosesinrespectofcastebybirth,itgainsinrespectofcastebymerit.Itsmeritconcerningspeech,grammar,manners, capacity to adjust, routine efficiency isundisputed.Fivethousandyearshavegoneintothebuildingofthisundisputedmerit.Atruedoctrineofequalopportunitywouldhavetoundotheworkoffivethousandyearsbygivingpreferentialtreatmenttothelowercastesoveraperiodofatleastafewdecades.India’spoliticalparties,CongressorCommunist,areunderMr.Nehru’sleadership,thoroughlyhostiletotheawardofpreferentialtreatmentonanylargescale.Theydenounceitasacaste-motivatedmeasurewhiletheyarethemselvesviciouslycaste-ridden,perhapsunknowingly.Theydenouncecastebybirth,but inenthroningtheprincipleofmerit,theykeepsecuredtheirprivilegedpositions.

Onnoaccountdothehighcastescomprisemorethan onefifth of India’s population.But they keepto themselves almost four-fifths of the nation’sleadership.Inrespectofthetopleadershipofthefourmaindepartmentsofnationalactivity,business,army,highcivilservicesandpoliticalparties,thehighcasteseasily comprise four-fifths.Whenwe talk of thetopleadershipofpoliticalparties,wemeannot themembersoflegislaturesbutthedirectingexecutiveswhichchoose them.Whenmore than four-fifthsofa nation’s vital leadership is traditionally selectedfromamongone-fifths of its population, a state ofatrophyisboundtoensue.Four-fifthsofitspopulationsinksintoastateoflistlessnessandinefficiency.Thenationissickandcontinuallyonthepointofdeath.To revitalise suchanation,adesignedselectionofleadershiphastobemade.Atleasthalforsixtyper

centofthenation’stopleadershipmustbeselectedbydesign fromamong the lower castes.Thisneednotbedonebylaw.Ithadbetterbedonethroughapurposefulunderstanding.Astartcanbemadethroughchangeinthenation’spoliticalleadership.Thatitcanbedonewasrecentlydemonstratedin theelectionsto theNationalCommittee of the Socialist Party.Trueenough,thepartyhashadtosufferagrievousmaligningatthehandsofignoranthigh-castes,bothoutside and inside its ranks.Time alonewill showwhetherthemaligningsucceeds.Whateverhappensonthisoccasionandinthisparty,theattempttorevitalisethenation’sleadershipintermsofcastemustbemadeagainandagainuntilitsucceeds.

Theoverwhelmingmajorityofthehigh-castetrulybelongtotheranksofthelowercastes,buttheyareignorantofthissituation.Itisthisignorance,whichispreservingthemostartificialsocialordertheworldhaseverknown.Nomorethanhalforamillionmenarethetruehigh-caste.Theyarethemenofmoneyortalentorinfluence.TheybelongtotheveryspecialcastessuchasBengaliBaddis,MarwariBanias,KashmiriBrahmins,whichspewouttheleadersoftradeortheprofessions.Onthispinpointdaggerofamilliontrulyhighcastepersonsresttheeightcroresorsooffalsehigh-castes,onwhom in turnareheaped the thirtycroresorsoofthelowercastes.Thedaggerhastornapartthevitalsoftheentirenation.

Thewheel of caste revolves remorselessly. If itgrindsoutthehundredsofmillionsofthelowercastes,italsodividesthehigh-casteintothetruehigh-casteand the falsehigh-caste.The truehigh-castewearscoatandtieorSherwaniandChudidars.TheyaretheBrahminsandBanias,KshatriyasandKayasthasofDelhiandthecapitaltowns.TothemareonlyillusorilyrelatedthehoardsofDwijasorthetwice-born,wholiveinthevillagesorsmalltowns.Thesefalsehigh-casteswearthedhotiorpyjamaofthepeople.Buttheyhugtheillusionanddiscardthereality.

Theyarenolongermen;theyhavebecomelistlessshadowsoftradition.Inactualfacteventhetruehigh-castesarepointlessshadowsoftraditioninthemidstofamobileworldwhereKhrushchevsandEisenhowersstridewiththeenergyofsomewhatactivisednations.Mr.NehruandIndia’spoliticalleadersmayappearbig


totheirowncountrymen;toworldhistory,theyaretheperformingpygmiesofweakenednations.Castemorethananythingelsecausesdebilitytothenation.

Howirrationalcasteisandhowremorselesslyitswheelgrindsisobviousfromtheschism,notmerelyreal,butalsoinnomenclature,withintheBaniacaste.Thewell-to-doBania,

thewholesaler,ofancienttimesbecametheVaishya.Itisdifficulttosayhowexactlythishappened.Itmaywellbethatthewholesalerorthewell-to-doremainedtheVaishya,while the rest became theBania.Thevastmassof theBania caste, theTeli, the Jaiswal,thePansariandthelike,aretreatedbyorthodoxyasSudra.Theyare the retailersofancient times,and,largely so, of today.The formerwholesaler is theDwija,theformerretailertheSudra.ThewholesalerandthepriesthavehithertoalwayscombinedinIndianhistory.Theirpolitical,economicandsocialintimacyso picturesquely described as the Sethji- Bhatjicombination byMaratha politics, has turned themintothetwice-bornandthehigh-casteparexcellenceofmodernHindusociety.Andthismostobviousfraudcontinues,whichshowsupcasteasnothingbutthecongealingofmoneyandstatus.

Thisfirstwordywaroncaste, ledby theDwija,is evenlymatched by the second empty struggleagainst caste led by select Sudra groups.AmongtheSudras,certaincastesarenumericallypowerful,evenoverwhelminginsomeareas.Theageofadultfranchisehasplacedpowerintheirhands.SomecastesliketheReddysandMudaliarsofsouthIndiaandtheMarathasofwesthavemadeuseofit.Theyand,nottheDwija,arethepoliticaloverlordsoftheirareas,though, even here the high-caste has strengthenedhis economic grip and ismakingmost clever anddeceptiveeffortstostageapoliticalcomeback.Thisispossiblechieflybecausetheseareemptystrugglesagainstcaste.Theydonotchangethesocialorderinthesenseofmaking itmore just,mobileoractive.Theydonotgivepowertoallthelowercastes,butonlytothelargestsinglesectionwithinthem.Theydonotthereforedestroycaste,butmerelycauseashiftinstatusandprivileges.Someofthetrappingsofthehigh-castebelongingtotheBrahminorVaishyaarestrippedoffthemandpatchedontotheMarathaorthe

Reddy.Thissolvesnoproblem.Rather,itdisgustsalltheotherlowercastesandenragethehighcaste.Caste,withallitsdebilityandsomemoreofitsirritations,remains.

Takingthecountryasawhole,theAhirs,variouslyknown asGwalas,Gopes, and theChamars, alsoknownasMahars,arethetwomostnumerouslowercastes,theformerSudraandthelatterHarijan.Theyare the colossi of the Indian caste system, like theBrahmin andKshatriya among theDwija.Ahirs,Chamars,BrahminsandKshatriyas, eachcomprisearound 2 to 3 crores of people.Together they areroughly10to12croresoftheIndianpopulation.Thatstillleavesalittlelessthanthreefourthsoftheentirepopulationoutsidetheirfold.Anystrugglesthatleaveunaltered their statusorconditionmustnecessarilybedeemedempty.Shiftsinthestatusandconditionsofthefourcolossimaybeofthegreatestinteresttothembutareoflittlesignificancetosocietyasawhole.

TheAhirsandChamarsofnorthIndiahavemadeefforts, perhapswithoutmuch awareness, similarto those of the Reddys and theMarathas. Theywereboundtofail,becausetheDwijasarefarmorenumerous in the north and, second, because, theyarenotquitesonumericallystrongamongthelowercastesofthenorth.Neverthelesstheeffortcontinueson a somewhat lower key.Democracy is inmanywaysgovernment bynumbers. In a countrywheregroupscohere throughbirthand long tradition, themostnumericalgroupstendtoacquirepoliticalandeconomicprivileges.Politicalpartiesrunafterthemtoselectcandidatesfromamongthemforelectionstoparliamentandassemblies.Additionally,theirshoutistheloudestforshareintradeortheservices.Theresult ismost disastrous.Themyriad lower castes,eachofwhomisnumericallyweak,butwhotogetherformthebulkofthepopulation,stagnate.Awaroncastemustnecessarilymeananelevationofall,andnotmerelyofanyonelargesection.Asectionalelevationchangessomerelationshipswithinthecastesystem,butitleavesthebasisofcastesunaltered.

Sectional elevation is dangerous in yet anotherway.Thoseamongthelowercasteswhorisetohighpositionstendtoassimilatethemselvestotheexistinghigh-castes.Inthisprocess,theyinevitablyappropriate


thebaserqualitiesofthehigh-caste.Everybodyknowshowthelowercastes,ontheirrise,tendtosegregatetheirwomen,whichagainisaqualitynotofthetophigh-caste but of themediumhigh-caste.Also thelowercastesthatrisebegintowearthesacredthreadoftheDwija,whichhassolongbeendeniedtothembutwhichthetruehighcastehasbegundiscarding.All thishasanadditionalresultofperpetuatingthedistinction.Furthermore,sucharisedoesnotcauseageneralfermentamongthelowercastes.Therisenarealienatedfromtheirowngroups;insteadoffermentingtheirownoriginallowergroupstheyseektobecomepartofthehighercastestowhosepositionstheyrise.Thisprocessofanextremelysectionalandsuperficialrisegivesbirthtoanothermisfortune.Thelevertotheriseissuppliednotbythecultivationofgoodqualitiesortalentbutbythearousingofbittercastejealousiesandtheplayofintrigues.

AsomewhatpeculiarsituationobtainsinanarealikeBengal. It is commonly supposed thatBengalhasnocaste-politics.Whatismeantisthatthevastbulkof the lower castes are toounaware to speak,muchlesstoshout.Theyaresilent.Thehigh-castesareveryvocal.Furthermore,theyaresomewhatliketheEuropeans,foreverysinglehighcastehastended,at least in the towns, to acquire an individualisedpersonality.ThissilenceofthelowercastesandthecomparativemodernisationofthehighercasteshasobscuredthetruepositioninBengal,themostcaste-ridden portion of India. Someday, the silencewillbreak.Thatwill be the timewhenempty strugglesagainstcastemayrepeatthemselves.TheMahishyas,Sudra,andtheNamsudras,Harijan,arethetwomostnumerouslowercastesofBengal.Theymightassertthemselves,notwithaviewtodestroycastebut inordertoequalorrivaltheBrahminandtheKayastha.The time to prevent such empty struggles is now.Adeliberatepolicyofupliftingall thelowercastesandnotmerelytheNamsudraortheMahishyaintopositionsofleadershipmustbefollowed.

Thisbringsustothethirdandtruestruggleagainstcaste now on the agenda of India’s history.Thisstruggleaimstopitchforkthefivedowngradedgroupsof society,women,Sudras,Harijans,Muslims andAdivasis,intopositionsofleadership,irrespectiveoftheirmeritasitstandstoday.Thismeritisatpresent

necessarilylow.Thetestsofmeritarealsosuchastofavourthehigh-caste.Whatlongagesofhistoryhavedonemustbeundonebyacrusade.Theinclusionofallwomen, includingDwijawomen,which is butright, into thedowngradedgroupsofsociety raisestheirproportiontotheentirepopulationto90percent.This vast sea of submerged humanity, nine out ofeverytenofIndia’smenandwomen,hasdrowsedintosilenceor,atbest,someroutinenoisesofseeminglife.Economicandpoliticaluplift,byitself,mayputsomefatontheirleanlimbs.Arestorationofself-respectthroughtheabolitionofcaste,ofcourse,whenitgoessidebysidewitheconomicuplift,canrousethemintotheactivityoffullmenandawakenedpeoples.Letitnotbeforgottenthatthehigh-castes,Dwija,havealsosufferedgrievouslyfromthisatrophyofthepeople,theireducationandculturehides,undertheveneerofgoodspeechandmanners,thedeadlypoisonofthelieandself-advancement throughdeceit.Acrusadetouplift thedowngradedgroupswould revivealsothe high-caste,would set right frames and valueswhicharealltodayaskew.Thiscrusademustneverbeconfusedwiththeniggardlyawardofpreferentialpositionstoafewscoresamongthelowercastes.Thisonlyirritatesthehighcaste.Ahowlgoesup.Itdoesnotatallfermentthelowercastes.Whatmattersifadozenortwoofthelowercastesareaddedtothehigh-casteoligarchyofseveralthousandsinanysphereoflife?Thereisneedtoaddthembythehundredandthethousand.Thatwillturnintoacrusadewhatistodayonlyavote-catching,quarrel-makingand jealousy-inspiringdevice.Thefactthatanentrantortwofromthelowercastesintothehigherreachesreceivesharpnotice,whiledozensofsimultaneousentrants fromthe higher castes are accepted in the usual course,indicateswhatahotcrusadewouldbenecessary.Itmustbeemphasizedagainandagain thathundredsoflowercastes,whomightotherwisestayunnoticed,mustreceivegreaterattentioninadeliberatepolicythanthetwocolossiwhowouldattractnoticeanyway.

This policy of uplift of downgraded castes andgroupsiscapableofyieldingmuchpoison.Infact,caremayonlymitigate someof theworst aspectsofthepoison;itcannotbetotallyeliminated.Afirstpoisonmaycomeoutofitsimmediateeffectsonmen’sminds;itmayspeedilyantagonisetheDwijawithoutspeedilyinfluencingtheSudras.Withhisundoubted


alertnesstodevelopmentsandhiscapacitytomislead,theDwijamaysucceedinheapingdirectorindirectdiscreditonthepractitionersofthispolicylongbeforetheSudrawakesuptoit.Secondly,thecolossiamongthelowercastesliketheChamarsandAhirsmaywanttoappropriatethefruitsofthispolicywithoutsharingthemwiththemyriadotherlowcastes,withtheresultthattheBrahminandChamarchangeplacesbutcasteremains intact.Thirdly, thepolicymaybemisusedbyselfishmenamongthelowercastesforindividualadvancement,whomayadditionallyuseweaponsofintrigueandcastejealousies.

Thiswouldrendsocietyfurtherapartandsubjectittogrosserselfishnesswithoutbringingitanybenefitsofweakeningandexpansion.Fourthly,everysinglecase of election or selection between aSudra andDwijamay become the occasion for acrimoniousexchanges.Thebaserelementsamongthedowngradedcasteswould use it as a constantweapon. In theirover-weaningdesiretoeliminatetheparticularDwijaagainstwhom they are ranged, theywould in totalseektooustallDwijasortofilltheairwithdarkersuspicionswhen they fail. Fifthly, economic andpoliticalissuesmaybeobscuredorrelegatedintothebackground.Reactionaries among the lower castesmaymisusetheanti-castepolicytoservetheirownends.Forinstance,theBackwardCastesCommissionReport,bywhichthelowercastesareswearing,hasside-steppedthegreatissuesthatconfrontthepeoplesuchasabolitionoflandtaxonuneconomicholdingsandthe impositionsofaceilingonall incomes.Itsconcrete recommendations are just two in number,one good and the other bad. It has recommendedreservationinservicesforthebackwardcastesandthereservationcouldjustifiablybemoredisproportionatethan theCommission haswished.But it has erredinmakingasimilarrecommendationforeducation.Letthebackwardcastesaskfortwoofthreeshiftsinschoolsandcolleges,ifnecessary,butletthemnever

askfortheexclusionofanychildofIndiafromtheportalsofaneducationalinstitution.

Suchisthepoisonthatthispolicymaybringforth.Continualawarenessofthispoisonmaycheckitingreatmeasure.Butthefearofthepoisonshouldnotblind us to themiraculous power of this policy tocreateandcure.Indiawillknowthemostinvigoratingrevolutionofherhistory.Thepeoplewillhavebecomealiveasneverbefore.Shemayalsohave indicatedin the process a lesson or two tomankind.KarlMarxtriedtodestroyclass,withoutbeingawareofitsamazingcapacitytochangeitselfintocaste,notnecessarilytheironboundcasteofIndiabutimmobileclassanyway.Forthefirsttime,anexperimentshallhavebeenmade in thesimultaneousdestructionofclassandcaste.Theyounghigh-castemustnowrisetohis fullmeasure, insteadofseeing in thispolicyan attack on his interest, he should view it for itscapacity to renew the people.After all among theveryfewrelationshipsofmarriagebetweenhighandlowcastes,thosebetweenDwijaandHarijancanbenamedbut not sobetweenSudra andHarijan.Theyoung high-castemust decide to turn himself intomanureforthelowercastes,sothatthepeoplemayforonceflowerintotheirfullyglory.Ifhumannaturewerecapableofinfinitesacrifice,wewouldhavethehigh-castebecomeadvisers,whiletheexecutivesarealllow-caste.Ifthisisnotpossibleeverywhere,letitbesoinasmanyplacesaspossible.Withfaithinthegreatcrucibleof thehumanraceandequalfaith inthevigourofalltheIndianpeople,letthehigh-castechoosetomingletraditionwithmass.Simultaneously,agreatburdenrestsontheyouthofthelowercastes.Nottheapingofthehigh-casteinallitstraditionsandmanners,notdislikeofmanuallabour,notindividualselfadvancement,notbitterjealousy,butthestaffingof the nation’s leadership as though itwere somesacredworkshouldnowbethesupremeconcernofwomen,Sudras,Harijans,Muslims,andAdivasis.

[July 1958]

Futuregenerationswillhavecause to rememberMr.RajnarainSinghasthegreatestparliamentarian

Principles of Parliamentary Behaviourof free India’s first few years.Mr. J.Nehruwillprobably be remembered as the other notable


parliamentarian,acraftystrategist,whoknewhowtoshiftblame,toquietenoppositionthroughpraiseorthreatoracomminglingofboth,andthatinthelargerparliamentaryhistories,Rajnarain’snameisassuredinthebriefestparliamentaryhistory,achampionofthe people, awarrior of parliamentary rights and,aboveall,a foeofviolenceandacrusaderofcivildisobedienceasmuchwithintheparliamentasoutside.Hewouldberememberedastheman,whomadehisbody awitness to his creed,who taught theweak,helpless and lonesomemanmore throughexamplethanthroughwords,hownotbendtotyranny.

ThefactsoftheRajnarainaffairarenotindispute.What is in dispute are the fundamental principlesand assumptions of parliamentary behaviour.Whatisaparliament?Itistheplacewherethreecategoriesof persons, elected representatives, governmentandapresidingofficermeet inorder todebateandresolve.Eachofthesecategoriesshouldbeboundbyrulesand,whatismore,everyoneofthemmustputhimself under voluntary and appropriate restraintsinorderthatparliamentmaytrulyreflectthepeopleand that parliamentary businessmay be properlytransacted.Noneshouldbefreefromtheserestraints,inparticular,mustthepresidingofficerbindhimselfto rules, possess an unruffled tranquillity, hold thescalesevenbetweenthegovernmentanddissentingrepresentatives and, above all, obliterate his ownindividuality in order to regulate parliament as anorderlyreflectionofthepeople’swill.

Everyoneof thesecategoriesmay indeedhavemademistakes.That is thefirst direction inwhichthe current controversymust be put straight.Theassumption is grievous that the speaker can do nowrong. In fact, the speakers and governments ofparliaments,which have only recentlywon theirfreedomandstatehood,arepronetoactoutsidethebounds of parliamentary rules and etiquette.Thegovernmentislikelytothinkandactinthefashionof peoplewho bigotedly believe themselves to beright.Thespeakerislikelytosharethatfeeling.Hehasnolivingtraditionbehindhim,nointernallighttoguidehim,unlessheisaverybrilliantoradeeplyliberalperson.Heisguidedbybooksofparliamentarypracticeandrulesfromabroad.Allzealouscopyistsare,inessence,monkeys,particularlysowhenthey

have toassert anew-foundauthority.Theykill thespiritoffreedomandcopythemorerigidkindofrules.

WeshallmakeasamplelistofquestionsonwhichspeakersinIndiahavemadedecisions:(1)Whatwordsandusagesareunparliamentary;(2)Whichquestionsmaybedisallowed;(3)Whichadjournmentmotionsmaybedisallowed;(4)Whichdeputiesmaybeseenandcalledupontospeakoftenerthantheothers;(5)Whatshouldbetheprocedureforentertainingmotionsofno-confidence;(6)If,andtowhatextent,shouldthepolice,armedorotherwise,becalledupontorestoreorderwithinthelegislature.

On all these six issues, speakers havemade ahabit ofmakingmistakes, primarily because theyare officious and zealous tomaintain a decorumthatbelongstoafinishingschoolforuppishmiddle-classgirls,whotheyareinessence,ratherthantoaparliament.

Itistruethattheexerciseofallauthority,nomatterhowboundbyrules,mustalwaysremaindiscretionaryincertainmeasure.Evendiscretionshouldbeboundby certain broad principles, though not by rules.Theauthorityofspeakersofparliaments,therefore,should be boundby rules,whenever possible, andbyprinciples,withinwhoseambittheymayexercisetheirdiscretion.Parliamentarylifeinthecountryhassufferedfromthelackofsuchrulesandprinciples,and,aboveall,fromthestupidbeliefthatthespeakermust possess the authority to evoke unquestionedobediencefrommembersofparliament.Thespeakermustundoubtedlypossessthepower,moremorallythan legally, to evokeobedience fromparliament’smembers,buttheobedienceshouldalsobeprincipledandnotunquestioned.

Rajnarainhasbeenknownforhisnormalobedienceto the speaker.But speakers in India are yet quiteoftenunprincipledandunruly.Whatisonetodoinsuchasituation?Parliamentswouldnevergrowuptoadulthood,ifmembersdidnotdevisesomemeanstokeeptheirmemberswithintheboundsofprinciplesandrules.AloneinthelatestRajnarainaffair,threespeakers, two of parliaments inDelhi and one inLucknow,havenotbeenadults.TheLucknowspeakererredonseveralcounts.Heshouldnothavedisallowed


thedebateonthearrestofhundredsofpeople,thathadtakenplaceadaybeforethedebatewasdemanded,whichwas occasioned by the near-starvation ofmillions of people in his state. Even after he hadillegally and officiously denied debate, he shouldnothavedeniedexpressiontoadissentingmemberwhowouldhavewalkedoutafterhisdissent.Afterthespeakerhadgotintoabrawlwiththedissentingmember, he should have adjourned theHouse, asindeedhedid,butnottoinvitethepolicetorestoreorder.HeshouldhaveadjournedtheHouseinordertotalktothedissentingmemberandtotheleadersofallotherparties,ifnecessary.HeshouldhaveadjournedtheHouseforawholedayifnecessaryinorderthatthe dissentingmembers and the government couldunderstandeachother’sviewpoint,adjustoraccept.A parliament is not a battle-field.An operation issometimesheldbackevenonbattlefield.ButspeakersofIndianparliaments,essentiallybecausetheyhaveneverorrarelybeenfacetofacewithpersonaldanger,arealittletoopronetothreatentheirmemberswithpolicemenwhodangletheirrevolversandusetheirfistsandboots.

ThetwospeakersoftheIndianparliament,ofthePeople’sHouseandof theSenate,havegrievouslyerred.Afterdisallowingthedebateon theplea thattheLucknowparliamentanditsproceedingscouldnotbeafitmatterfordebateintheIndianparliament,thetwospeakersviolatedtheirownrulingandexpressedvoluble, intemperate, rhetorical and emotionallysurcharged opinions on the proceedings of theLucknowparliament.ThespeakeroftheLokSabhawentsofarastosaythattheLucknowspeakerandpolicedidwhatwasright.TheDelhispeakersaidthisinfaceoftheLucknowspeaker’sdeclaration,madethepreviousdayandwhentheadjournedHousehadmetintheafternoon,thathehadaskedthepolicenottouseexcessiveforceandcomplaintsshouldbemadetohiminwritingifthepolicehaddoneso.Nobodyhasdeniedthatonemember,RamsinghChauhan,waskickedunconscious.Thespeakerof theLokSabhahas charged like amadbull into this situation.Hehasviolatedhisownruling.Hehascommendedanactionofbrutalforcewiththebackdropofweaponsintheinnermostsanctumofpeoples’sovereignty.HehasdonesowhentheLucknowspeakerwashimselfindoubtabouttheproprietyofthepoliceactionand

itsextent.WedonotknowifthespeakeroftheLokSabhacanbeprosecutedinacourtoflawonchargesofcontemptorbreachofprivilegeoftheUttarPradeshlegislatureorsimilarjurisdisticissue.Wedoknow,however,thatheshouldputhimselfunderarigorouscourseofself-control,andstrivetoachieveacertaindullnessofspiritifhecannotachievetranquillity,incasehedoesnotwishtobeacontinuingdisgracetohischair.

ThespeakeroftheRajyaSabha,Dr.Radhakrishnan,hastheadditionalreputationofbeingaphilosopher.A speaker should never indulge in cheap gibesparticularlywhenhehappenstobeaphilosopher.Onawalk-outbymembersofhisparliamentonseriousandsolemnoccasions,heshouldnotgibethatthebusinessofthehousewouldbetransactedeasilyandsmoothly.

Dr.Radhakrishnanwassohitupthathedescribedthescenes inUttarPradeshparliamentasuglyanddefined democracy as a consideration for others.Unless the philosopherwas equivocating,whichwould beworse than lying, these remarkswereobviouslymeantagainstRajnarainandhiscomradesand not against theUttar Pradesh speaker and thepolice.Theserenephilosopherhasoutsizefeetofclayand,whenhis self-interest is aroused, the serenityof his spirit vanishes. Philosophers have not beenunconsciouslyadvisedtokeepwithintheircloisters.ButtheVice-PresidentofIndiahasalwaysyearnedtoadornthetopplacesofsafepoliticsandhemayrecallhowheusedtobeseechRajnarain,whowasthenonlyastudentleader,toputinagoodwordforhisvice-chancellorwiththeCongressleadership.

Theproblemofthespeaker’sbehaviourmustbeviewed in greater perspectives.The speakermustindeedration the timeof the legislatorwith justiceaswellasprotectthedebatefromagreaterirrelevantor disorderly derailment. But, then, thismatterof timemust bemore fundamentally examined.Indianparliaments,evenofsuchpopulousstatesasUttarPradesh,whichislargerthanthelargestWestEuropean state,WestGermany, sit for four orfivemonthsintheyear.Theyshouldsitfortenmonthsinayear.Whatafterallisaparliament?Itisthemostsensitivemirrorthatman’sdexterityhasyetdevised,topeople’swrongsandsorrow.Whenmendiebythe


millionthroughsmallpoxorhunger,whentheystarvebytensofmillionsandwhentheyarearrestedintheirhundredsforprotests,themirrormustgleamwiththeredlightofdangerandmustbeinoperationaslongaspossible.Ifthemirroriskeptoutofcommissionforthegreatestpartoftheyear,democracyisboundtobecurtailed,almostfatally.Rajnarain’sorthespeakers’behaviourmustbeviewedagainstthisbackgroundofunreasonablyshortparliamentarytime.Thespeakerhastocrowdtogetherordisallowmuchthatshouldbeallowed.ParliamentsinIndiamustsitforthegreaterpartoftheyear.

Rajnarain’sactionofcivildisobediencewithinthelegislaturedeservesa searchingbutcomprehensiveexamination.Hemightindeedhavehurledashoeatthechiefministerorgivenawhackingslaptothefoodminister.Thiswouldhavepassedoffasanexpressionoftemporarypassion,forwhichtheoffenderwouldhavereceivedthelightpunishment.Largenumbersofunthinkingpeoplewouldhaveadmiredtheactforitssurfacialcourageorpassion.However,theactwouldhavebeentotallydevoidofvalue.Infact,suchactspromote the spirit of disorderly conduct andbreedsituationsofinsulttoman’sdignity.Theyareofnousetotheweakandlonesomeman,andallmenare

thatwhenfacedwithoverwhelminglysuperiormight.Theydepress thegeneral runofmeninto thehabitofsurrender.Rajnarain’sactisasymbolofwhatthetotallyunarmedorpowerlessmancandointhefaceofarmedmight.Heneednotbendhisknee.Heneednothitbackatthetyrant.Allthathedoesistorefuseto obey, propelled as he is by the almost religiousforceofcivildisobedience.Reasonhashithertoalwayscollapsedagainstweapons.Whenreasonsummonstheaidofweaponsinitsfightagainstarmedunreason,it collapses just asmuch aswhen it is suppressedbecauseofitsrefusaltoresorttoarms.Reasonacquiresitsappropriateweaponsthroughcivildisobedience.Humanityknowsofnootherwaytoarmreason;civildisobedienceisarmedreason.Rajnarain’sactwithintheUttar Pradesh parliamentwill indeed be longrememberedforitstwo-foldmeaning.Itwilllivelongasasymbolofwhatallmenmightdointheirhourofdistress,inthemomentthataweakspiritinvitesthemtosubmittotyrannyandexploitation.Ithasalsobeena powerful blow struck at parliamentary fraud, or,better,amoststrenuousexerciseinsufferinginorderthatthemirrorofparliamentmaybekeptwithoutspotor blemish.Howevermuch sycophants and fraudsarecondemningittoday,itwillhaveactedasagreatcauseforthecorrectionofparliamentaryprocedures.

[October 1958]

Ishouldliketomakesomeproposal,entirelynon-controversial and non-partisan,which all politicalparties,publicists,inparticular,theradioandthepress,woulddowelltoadopt.

1.ThedivisionofthepeopleofIndiaintoAryan,Dravidian andMongolian should be irrevocablyended.There are no such divisions at present norhavebeenin thepast3000yearsandsometimesIimagine theEuropeanscholarshaveinventedtheseliestodisintegrateIndia.

TheChinese aremakinguse of this lie in ordertoweanawaytheemotional loyaltiesofmore thanoneandhalfcroresofpeopleoftheHimalayanIndiaby telling them that they are both brothers of the

India, China and Our BordersMongolian race. Frommypersonal experience ofpeoplerightup toThailand,asalsomyknowledgeof history, I can categorically assert that India andher immediate neighbours likeTibet,Thailand andCambodiaarecertainlynotMongolianintheChinesesenseandtheyarealldefinitelymoreakintoIndiathanChinaintheirmindaswellasrace.

2.ThefrontiersbetweenIndiaandsovereignTibetmayandshouldhavebeentheMcMahonLineandthatbetweenChinaandIndiashouldbetheKailash,Mansarovar andEast flowingBrahmaputra and infact 30 to 40miles further north,where the landshowsasteepfall.Ihadsofardependedoncultural,mythologicalandgeographicalevidenceforthispolicy.ButIamnowproducinganadministrativeevidence


insofarasthevillageofMansar,gavelandrevenuetoIndiadefinitelyuntiltheChineseoccupationandthevitalstatisticsofthatvillageformedpartofIndiancensus.ItappearsarulerofLadakhgaveawaytheselandswiththeexceptionoftheMansarvillage,whichheretainedasatokenofIndiansovereignty,toarulerofTibetandinallprobabilitythisgiftdeedwasinvalidandevenassumingthiswasvalidthegovernmentofChinacanundernolawbecomebeneficiariestothisgiftmadetothegovernmentofTibet.

3.TibetandIndiaarerelatedinmattersofscript,languageandgeneralwaysoflivingandthought.ImightalmostsaythatTibetisabout80percentIndiaand20percentChinaandeveninregardtotheracialbuildup theTibetansarecertainlyasmuchrelatedto India as toChina.What should decide frontiersbetweenanytwocountriesisthewillofthepeople,thecontoursoftheland,generalcultural,geographyandhistoryandeconomicconsiderations.TheChineseshouldbetoldtolearnfromtheirmasterLenininthathetoreupoldimperialisttreatiesforthesakeofanewandfreeworld.EvenifthetreatiesaretobeabasislettreatiesofMansartypeoroftheMahabharatagebebroughtontheconferencetable.IndiashouldofcoursealwaysmakeitclearthatifChinachosetomakeTibetsovereigntheywillnotlayclaimtoKailashorsimilarareas.

4.SuchnamesasMountEverestorNEFAmustbe immediately abandoned and in their place thenameofSargaMatha orSagarMathawhich havebeenprevalentthroughouttheagesasnativenamesoftheEverestandUrvasiamforNEFAmustbeputtoimmediateuse.Furthermore,theadministrationof

Urvasiam shouldbe taken away from theExternalAffairsMinistryandiftheDelhiGovernmentisaversetotransferittotheHomeMinistry,aseparateministryoftheHimalayanAffairsunderthedirectcareofthePrimeMinister,beformed.

5.AnintegratedeconomicandpopulationplanningforHimalayanIndiamustbeputintooperationandresourcesofallIndiainmoneyaswellasinmenmustbeutilizedinorderparticularlytomakethiswholearealushwithorchards.

Responsible governmentmust be introduced inBhutan, Sikkim andUrvasiam, and the peoples oftheselandsmustbeenabledtosendrepresentativestotheIndianparliament.

However low Indiamight have currently fallen,itwould bewise to tell her own people and theneighboursthatthisgreatestcontinentofhumanracecalledAsiainEnglish,AsieninGermanorAsieninFrench,derivesitsnamenotfromaChineseoranyotherwordbutfromtheIndianwordofUshaorUshas,thelandofthemorningsunoftheEasternlands.Ourancestorsatonetimeweregreatenoughtogivetheareasnowpeopledby theChineseandothers theirname.

ImustconfesstoanutterincompetencebecauseI have beenmaking some of these suggestion forseveralyearsbuttonoeffect.IshouldliketomakeanappealtothePrimeMinisterofIndiawhoistheonlyeffectiveleaderofopinioninthecountrytogiveaseriousthought to theseabsolutelynon-partyandnon-controversialsuggestions.

[June 1960]

SouthAfricahasforcedtheissueofskinandcolourontheattentionoftheWorld.Buttheissueprevailseverywhere in one form or another. Its virulenceis just as high, if not higher inKenya orAlgeriaas in SouthAfrica.Among the coloured peoplesthemselves,discriminationsflowingoutofskincolourtakefairlyrabidforms.Theyspoilrelationshipsnot

alonebetweenonecolouredpeopleandanotherbutalsowithinasinglecolouredpeople.Thereisperhapsjust one spot in theworldwhere disadvantages donotflowoutof colour and that is the cafesofSanMicheleinParis.Intheadjoiningresidentialhousesofmiddle-classFrenchmen,colourprejudiceisjustas sharp, thougha littlemorepolite, as it is in the

The Issue of Skin Colour


AfricanpossessionsofFrance.EnglandandLondonhaveamplydemonstratedthattheirtoleranceofthecolouredskindoesnotgobeyondacertainpointofemploymentpressuresorfemalefavours.

Theissueofcolour inSouthAfricareceivedthecontinued attention of theWorld for aweek andmore because of theBritishCommonwealth.As ithas becomehalf colouredbyvirtue of the numberof countries represented at its conferences, theBritishCommonwealth is somewhat sensitive tolegally enacted andblatant discriminations of skincolour.It isunabletodoanything.It talksandthattoomildly.Whether it exercises any restraint infavourof equalityand freedom is anybody’sguessandtheanswerdependsononeslikeordislikeofit.WedisliketheCommonwealth.Andyetwearenotentirelysurewhetheritdoesnotexercisesomekindofashort-runrestraintonthecruderexcessesofcolourdiscrimination.Thatitcannotbealong-runrestraintisalmostinherentintheSouth-Africansituation.

SouthAfricapossessesaround15,00,000whites.Itstotalpopulationisaround15million.Oneoutofevery10in thepopulationiswhite.But thewhitesrunthegovernment.Theyownthecountry.Theycanpasswhat laws they likeandhave in factdoneso.Theyhaveuprootedhundredsofthousandscoloredmenandwomenfromtheirhomes,segregatedthemintolocalitieswhichtheyhavechosen,forcedthemto take out police permits and identity cards andotherwise sought to humiliate them and suppressthem.Intheprocess,hundredshavebeenkilledandthousands have been imprisoned.Democracy andthe adult vote donot obtain inSouthAfrica.SuchsectionsofthepopulationasareofEuropeanancestryhave usurped the government.They have usurpedthegovernmentbecausetheypossessamonopolyoneffectiveweapons.Theypossessweapons becauseofcertainaccidentsofhistorybutalsobecausetheyare better producers of goods andwealth. Theyare better producers of goods because they ownhigher intelligence, in the strictly limited sense ofcontemporaryabilitytoproducegoodsandtowieldweapons.Theyarecurrentlybetterabletomakeuseofandresearchforappliedscienceandtoorganize.Thecurrentcapacityinorganizationandusefulknowledgerestsoverwhelminglywith thewhites andwith the

historical accident ofmonopoly ofweapons, theirpositionbecomesalmostunassailable.

How theBritishCommonwealth can alter thesituationoverthelongrunandinafundamentalwayisdifficulttocomprehend.Whatislikelyistemporarilycushioningofconflicts,someadjustmentshereandthere,andalittlelesseningofcrueltyintheinevitableexecutionof discriminatorypolicy.Then, there aretwoelementsinthewhitepopulation,oneofDutchancestryandtheotherofnon-Dutchorpre-eminentlyBritishancestry.ThoseofDutchdescentareextremistsandthoroughintheexecutionofwhitepolicy,whiletheBritishprogenyislittlemoreliberalandalittlemorecapableofpoliticalcraftsmanship.Asthetwosectsandpoliticalbeliefscoincidemoreorlesswiththelinesofancestry,itisdifficulttoforeseeasituationinwhichthemoreliberalwhitepartycouldwinanelectioninSouthAfrica,butworldpressuresarethere.TheboycottofSouthAfricangoodsisalsotelling.TheBritishCommonwealth is also exercising a certaininfluence.WithasomewhatmoreliberalgovernmentinSouthAfrica,whichhoweverisaremotepossibility,thecoloursituationmayeaseforthetimebeing.Butwhatfundamentalchangesarepossible?Liberalismgoesonlyuptoapointandnofurtherinthematterof adjusting relationshipwithin the same frontiers.Itcouldhardlygototheextentofequalitybetweencolouredandwhiteinasituationwherethewhiteistheownerofgovernment,wealthandland.Inorderto let thewhite have a free and long run inSouthAfrica,thecolouredpopulationwillhavetoagreetoasubordinateposition.Eventhiskindofcontemporaryeasingofracerelationshipsisdependentonuncertainandahighlyuncertainliberalism.Itmayatitsbestgivebreathingtimetothecolouredpeoples,enablethemtoimprovetheirstatusandlearningandreduceviolence,butadriveforfinalresolutionoftheraceclashinSouthAfricawillcomenotfromtheBritishCommonwealth nor from liberalismof thewhitesbut from the increasing strength of the colouredpopulation inSouthAfrica and their friends to thebitterendoutside.

Theworldconsistsofover2,50,00,00,000persons.Ofthese250croresaround90croresarewhite.Every3½personsoutof10in theworld’spopulationarewhiteorofEuropeanancestry.Theyhavenotalways


beensonumerous.Overtwoorthreehundredyearsago,therecouldnothavebeenmorethanonewhiteoutofeverytenoftheworld’spopulation.Theyhavebeenmultiplyingfast.Thishasbeentheirage.Theirpresentnetrateofreproductionishigherthanthatofthecolouredpeoples.Ifthiscouldgoonindefinitely,theworldwouldbecomeoverwhelminglywhiteorpinkcomplexionedandtraceitsancestryinEurope,butthepeakofrelativesuperiorityinnetreproductionwas reached long ago and the reverse process orrelativeequalityinthegrowthofpinkandcolouredmaynotbedistant.

Thewhitesruletheworld.Theyownitsweapons,its goods, its organising ability and its intelligenceforusefulknowledge.AstoryalmostidenticalwiththatofSouthAfricaisre-enactedonthescaleoftheworld.RussiaandAmerica,whichpossessbetweenthemselvesonlyone-sixthsoftheworld’spopulationproduce nearly three-fourths of its wealth. Thewhitesowna100%monopolyontheworld’snuclearweapons.Theyproducethescholarsandscientistsandonanytest,whetheroftheNobelprizeoranyother,whichthecolouredpeoplesmightchoose,theyownnearly90%oftheworld’scontemporaryintelligenceandscholarship.Thesituationisalmostunrelievedlyblackforthecolouredpeoples.

AlmostallthesouthandcentralAmericaiscolouredbuttheleadershipinpracticallyeverysphereoflifeand in almost all these countrieswith one notableexceptionisheldbythewhitesofEuropeanancestry.TheMexicansalonehavebeenabletobuildupamulti-racialleadership,ofwhichtheMestizzoorthemixedelementformsaverylargepart.Inalmostallothercountries,thewhiteispresumablyrecognisedastheleaderthroughwillingconsentoftheentirepopulation.Thewhitesarenomorethan4croresoutofatotalofover20croresthatinhabittheseareas.Oneinfiveofthepopulation, theycontrolanddirectall industry,government,learning,politicsandculturallife.Brazilisthelargestcountryinthisarea,thesecondlargestinalltheworldafterSovietRussia,inevitablydestinedtobecomethegreatpowerofthenextcentury.ItisfabulouslyrichpotentiallyandnotsopoorastheAsiancountriesintermsofcurrentrealities.

Its new capitalBraziliamight reasonably rouse

theenvyofseveralsouthandeastEuropeanstates.Asfaraswealthandlivingstandardsgo,letthisbeknownwellandfully,thatthepoorestregionsoftheworldareinAsia.Amongcolouredpeoples,therearevariouslevelsofpoverty.IndianpovertyforinstanceisabysmalandbeyondcompareandthenewAfricanRepublicorGhanahasa livingstandard twice thatof India.Thesewere side remarks.Coming to theessentialpointthatthewhitesdominatecentralandsouthAmerica,inspiteofnumericalinferiorityandinasituationwheredemocracyonthewholeprevails,a central fact of some importance stands out.Thecolouredpersongenerallyfeelsinferiortothewhiteperson. Evenwhen he is truculent and expresseshimself in arrogant behaviour, the colouredpersonfeels inferior in his heart of hearts.This ismostdefinitely so in theAmericas,where the colouredperson is obsessedwith thebeautyof the fair skinand lives a life ofmost permanent agony, becauseheascribeslowvaluetohisownskin.Thissenseofinferiorityinevitablytravelsoverintootherspheres.

Juridicalandaestheticnormsandmaterialrealitiesare intertwined.Theygiveeachotherbeing.Whilethewhite is sooverwhelmingly superior in currentmaterial realitiesofwealthandweapons, it isonlynaturalthatjuridicalandaestheticnormsshouldbebased on his superiority.Norms and precepts ontheotherhandchangeearlierthanreality.Whenaninjusticeisdetectedandfelt,itgivesbirthtoanewnormwhichcontravenesexistingrealities.Juridicalenactmentsmaygenerally,thoughnotalways,followmaterialrealities,butjuridicalpreceptsandaestheticnormsoftenprecede them.The colouredperson isasgoodasthefairperson,alsoinrespectofbeautyandgoodlooks.Skincolourhasnothingwhatevertodowithbeautywhosecriteriahavetobediscoveredelsewhere.Similarly, brains and intelligence are asfrequentamongthecolouredpeoplesasamongthewhites,onlytheiruseandorganisationhashithertobeen scanty.These precepts and normsmust nowbegintoresideinthehumanmind,particularlyofthecolouredperson.

Asiaisacolouredarea,andyetcolourdiscrimination,particularlyofthenon-legalvarietyissharpesthere.ThisissoatleastinIndia.Lightskinisratedhigh,exceedinglyhigh.Thelowercastesaregenerallydark


skinned.They have from times immemorial beensegregated in low lying areas of the village.WhatSouthAfricaisattemptingtodotodayappearstohavebeenachievedinIndiaseveralthousandsyearsago,with the religiouschantor the stickorpresumablyboth.Awitch’scauldronofreligion,aesthetic,socialordering,political statusandwealthhavecreatedasituationinwhichthedarkertheskin,thelessworthytheperson.TheNegro isprobablyworst treated inIndia.Heisindeedtreatedpolitely,andtherearenolegaldiscriminationsagainsthim,buttheworstofitallisasituationwherethequestionofdiscriminationdoesnotarisebecausetherearenosocialcontacts.Whilegeneralsocialordering,religionandcastemayhavesomethingtodowiththesocialneglectoftheNegroasoftheEuropean,thereisnodoubtthattheNegroismorecompletelyostracisedbecauseofhiscolour.TheaverageIndianisafterallacolouredpersoninthetotalschemeoftheworld.HeissubjectliketheNegrotodiscriminatorylawswhetherinAfricaorinthesouthernUnitedStates.Heisapartoftheweakandpoorworldconstantlybeggingforwheatoraircraftfromthewhites.Thissituationwillnotchangeunlessheisabletoridhismindofthecancerouserrorthathasgonedeepintoit.Somepersonsdoubtwhetherthecancercannowbecured.Thecancerisnothingmorenorlessthanthesocialandaestheticbeliefthatfairorwhiteskinissuperiortocolouredskin.India’sprotestagainstSouth-Africawillbeemptyuntilshestrivestoendcastenormsandsegregationssanctifiedbycenturies.

Africa is the great hope for setting right thedistortionsofsocialandaestheticvisionrelatingtoskincolour.InAfrica,thecolouredskinissmoothlydarkandtherearenogradationsormixturesasinAsiaorinAmerica.Whenthesenseofinferioritygoes,itwillgocompletely.PersonsofEuropeanancestryinthewhole ofAfricawould not number verymuchmore than 50 lakhs,while the total population isovertwentycrores.AsmallfringeofNorthAfricaispopulatedbytheArabs,whobelongdefinitelytothecolouredworld,butwhoseskinisalmostaslightasthatofthesouthEuropean.TheArabhoweverhasfewspiritualandculturaltraditionsofskindiscrimination.TheessentialpointishowthisenormousmassoftrulydarkcolourwillcomeintoitsowninSouthAfrica,Kenya,RhodesiaorSahara,wherethewhiteskinhas

builtanalmostimpregnablelineofdefenceagainstthe overwhelmingly numerous but suppressed andtortureddarkskin.

Feudalisminlandownershipbasedonskincolouralso exists.There is noneed to stir upoldhistory.Ifonedid,allofAmericaandalargepartofRussiawouldbeonelongandunrepentablewailofphysicalandculturalgenocide.AsitisCalifornia,SiberiaandAustralia are outstanding examples of feudalism.Theseenormousareashaveadensityofpopulationaround10tothesquaremile.Theyhavebeentakenover completely by thewhite races.The colouredpeoples can enter them only in driblets or nor atall.This feudalismwill endeither throughaworldpopulationpolicyorafterthecolouredpeopleshaveacquiredstrengthenough toknockopen thebarreddoors.Intheformulationofaworldpopulationpolicy,Asian andAfrican areas of small populations liketheAndamansmustalsocomeintothepool.ItmayincidentallybeofsomeinteresttonotethatcountrieslikeFijiandMauritiusareinhabitedbypopulationsof Indian ancestry, Fizi inmajority andMauritiusverynearly.Theselandsarestillruledbythewhites.HadIndiabeenawhitecountryandnotacolouredone,FijiandMauritiuswouldhavebynowacquiredindependence.Inanyevent,theFiziansandMauritiansof Indian ancestrywould dowell to end politicalpartiesbasedonancestryand to formnewonesofprincipleandideologysothattheyandothersmightplayequalrolesinacommonorganisation.

SchoolishvisionshaveoftenthoughtupcombinedarmiesorgovernmentsofIndia,ChinaandtheAfricanpeoplesknockingatthedoorsofthewhiteworldorfor a oneworld of juridical andmaterial equality.These visions are just as unreal asEuropean fearsof the yellow peril or the black peril.Thisworldofoursdoesnotrunaccordingtoprincipleoridea.The coloured peoples have numerous problemsamongthemselves.Itismucheasierforacolouredgovernmentofgreaterarmedpowertoseeksolutionsofproblemsithaswithweakercolouredgovernmentsratherthantocombineindiplomacyorwaragainstthewhiteswhichmightendupinsmokeanddefeat.Furthermore,everycolouredgovernmentandpeopletakesitsmachinesanditsweaponsfromoneortheotherwhitegovernment.


There is no escape then from theneedofwhiteassistanceinsolvingthecolourquestion.Thatshouldnotmeancompromiseorsurrenderofprinciples,norshould itmeanmanoeuvringor intriguing in orderto obtain the cooperationofwhite governments. Itonlymeans the formulationof universal principlesacceptabletowhiteandcolouredalike,theabsenceofhateandthereadinesstoinviteandacceptopponentsof colour discrimination from among persons ofEuropeanancestry.

Themosteffectiveopponentofcolourinequalityisthecolouredpersonhimself.Hemustgetridofhisfeelingofinferiority.Heshouldnotwanttobelikethewhiteperson,whichoftenenoughmeansdesireand action to lighten somewhat his dark colour.In largeareas,hehasalreadybeendeprivedofhislanguage and religion. Individual conversions areoftenanindexofactivefaith,butwholemillionsofcolouredpersonshaveoftenbeenforcedortemptedintotheirconquerors’religion,whichmustbeacauseof continuing debasement of the soul. In similarmanner; the great Inca andAztec languages havebeenwipedout and soalso theAfricandialects. Itis impossiblenow tounscramblewhathasbeensoirremediablyscrambled.ApartfromsuchremediesasencouragementtotheNegrolanguage,Swahili,andrevival of the south and centralAmerican folklorealongsideofcreationofahumanculture,theessentialpointsisforthecolouredpersonnottowishtobeliketheEuropean,nottoimitatehim,buttobehisequal,nottobearrogantandnoteventoflaunthisequalitybutalsogentlyandfirmlytorejectallnotionsofwhitesuperioritytoleadership,totakeequalpleasureintheworldaroundhim,ofthewhiteasofthecolouredskin,inotherwordstostrivetoberightwheremanthroughtheageshasbeenwrong.

Theroleofcolouredgovernmentsisofexceedingimportance.What coloured peoples dowith theirfreedom,howtheybuilduptheirstrengthandwhattheydotoassistthesorelyharassedbrothersofcolourisofdecisiveimportance.AcolouredgovernmentlikethatofChina,whichisout-lawedbythewhites,isablefreelytoassistthevictimsofwhiteterror.Everybodyknowsthatitsactivitieswilldiminishorevenstop,once it is integrated into the existingworld order.

Andyetmenlive in thepresentandare influencedbywhatactuallyhappensaroundthemfromdaytoday.Itisthereforenecessaryforcolouredpeoplesandgovernmentswhichdislikecommunismbecausetheylikeaworldunioninfreedomandequality,toassistmoreactivelythevictimsofcolourdiscrimination.

Themostcrucialpointisthatofstrengthandnewcreation.No colouredpeople is strikingout into apathof strengthandcreationdifferent from thatofthewhites.Herein lies the greatest failure of thecolouredpeoplesandthereforeoftheworld.Everycolouredpeopleisfeverishlyimitating,thoughratherunsuccessfully, the technologyandeconomyof thewhites.Anyotherwayisperhapsverydifficult.Buteveninthisway,tocatchupwiththewhiteswouldappear to be impossible because of the enormoushandicapofearlieradvantageoratleastamatterofmany,manydecades.Someexperimentationshouldtherefore bemadewith the small-unit technologywherever possible andmass productionwherevernecessary. Even outside of this debatable field oftechnology and economy, there is awhole area ofsocialandethicalthought,whichneedstoberevised.TheEuropeanconceptofcitizenship,forinstance,istoogrosslyphysical,tiedupwithbirthordomicile.Colouredgovernmentsshouldtrytoevolveaconceptofcitizenship,whichisatleastpartlycultural,whichrecognisesasindividual’sculturaldeclaration.Inlikemanner, the concept of aworld parliament electedontheadultvoteperhapswithregionalweightages,shouldbecomeanintegralpartofthecolouredman’sthoughttodayasofthewholeworldtomorrow.Thereis alsoneed for thehelpless littleman,whenhe isunarmedandunorganizedoftheEuropeanworldtoacquirepersonaldignity,atleastinthecolouredworldthroughthematchlessweaponofcivildisobedience.Above all, equality in the sense of comparativeequalityinmaterialpossessionsasalsooftranquilityofspiritmustbecomethesupremeaimofthecolouredman’sendeavour—Onlysowouldacivilisationarisewherethegovernmentofthepeople,forthepeople,bythepeoplewouldbesustainedbythegovernmentofmankind,formankindononesideandthegovernmentofthecommuneforthecommune,bythecommuneontheother.

[July 1960]


I have long held to the notion that theworldis divided between the privilegedwhite and thecolouredunderdog.Thisactofvengefulhostilitytothewhitepeoples,whichdoesnogoodtotheworld.I have, however, felt emotionally at homewithEuro-Americaand,infact,foundgreaterawarenessoftheworldamongthemthanamongthecolouredpeoples.ThecolouredmangenerallyisemotionallyhostiletoEuro-Americaandintellectuallyenslavedto it.Men likeme are emotionally friendly toEuro-America,butstrivefor intellectual freedomfromit.Ourpositionhasbeena littledifficultofunderstandingbothforthewhiteandthecolouredlackeybutthecolouredman’sanglethatwebringto bear uponour interpretationof theworld anditseventshelpsrevealthetruth.Wedidnotcreatethedivisionbetweentheprivilegedwhiteandthecolouredunderdog. It is there. Inacknowledgingthedivision,weaimtodestroyit,nottoreversetherolesbuttoachieveequality.Onecould,therefore,have legitimately expectedmore of theChineseCommunists thanof theRussianCommunists,atleastincertainspheres.Iwillfirstrecordthespheresoftheseexpectationsbeforetryingtodiscoverwhathashappenedtothem.Mankindmustknowofmanyinsidious but hitherto unknown imperialisms.Asimperialismisasomewhatodorousword,itcreatesawallongenuineunderstanding,whenitshouldnot.Theideaisnottoblameanybody.Acertainsituationofempire-colonyrelationshiphasariseninseveralspheresofhumanactivity.History,ifanybody,mustbeblamedforit.Thecolouredpeoplesmustbeartheblameforitjustasmuchasthewhitepeoples,ifnotmore,fortheyweresupine,indolentorstupidwhenthewhiteswereactive,masterfulandbloody.

International LandlordismLebensraun imperialism, or international

landlordism, is the first of the unapprehendedcriminals.Countries like theUnited States andSoviet Russia have enormous spacewith littledensityofpopulation.Accidentsofhistoryalonehave gifted these enormous landmasses.Cruelbarbarism has incidentally been a contributoryfactortosuchaccidents.SiberiaandAustraliaare

peopledatonepersontothesquaremile.Canadaisnotmuchdifferent.Californiaiswellundertenpersonsto thesquaremile.Wemaycontrast thesewith thedensitiesof350personstothequaremileinIndiaandnearly200inChina.Iflandlordismwithinacountrycanbesounsavouryto theprogressive,as itoughttobe,whatofthisinternationallandlordism?Someday,somebodyorperhapsthewholeofmankindwillhavetosetrighttheseunjustturnsofhistory.Mind-imperialismisasmuchamarkofourtimesasanyother.Itistruethatthereisawillingnessonthepartoftheintellectualimperialisttoimparthislearning,thoughnotnecessarilyalltheskillsorthesituationofelementalawakening,tothecolonialsofthemind.Itmaybepointedoutthatasimilarmind-imperialismexistsinternallyinIndia.Certaincasteshavebecomemind-imperialiststhroughlongtradition.Onemightsaythatseveralthousandyearsofdivisionoflabourbybirthhavebeenactingalmostlikeanaturalselection.Ontheworldstage,thishasbeengoingonforabout400years.Thewhitemind-imperialistwouldbejustaswrong as the coloured high caste, nativemind-imperialist,ifheweretodenyallresponsibilityforthissituationandcontenthimselfwiththenostrumofequalopportunity.Equalityofopportunitycanonlycontinueanddeepentheinjusticeofmind-imperialism.Onlythrough unequal and privileged opportunities tocolonials of themind canmind-imperialism beabolished.Athirdsuchhiddentyrannyisproductivityimperialism.EveryoneknowsthatRussiaandAmericawithroughlyoneeighth

oftheworld’spopulationproducemorethanhalfof itswealth.The landless labourer in India earnseightannasor tenAmericancentsaday,whilehisoppositenumberintheU.S.earnsaboutRs.25orfiveAmericandollarsaday.RussiaandAmericaproducewealthworthbetweenRs.8,000andRs.14,000perpersonperyear,whileIndiahastobecontentwithapaltrysumofRs.400perpersonperyear.RussiaandAmericaaregrowingeachyearattherateofRs.250perpersonperyear,whilethecorrespondingamountinIndiaisjustRs.5.Theideaisnottoapportionblame,atleastnotinthepresent.Thebasisforthisproductivity-imperialismmaybetracedtoancientexploitation.If

On Hidden Imperialisms


thereisexploitationtoday,itismoreorlesswiththewillingconsentofthoseexploited.Noimputationofblameoranyotherkindofaccusationmustbereadintothis.Thesituationhastoberecognised.Ifwethehumanracearetobeone,thissituationmustbedeeplyunderstoodandremedied.Weapons-imperialismisanecessarycorollaryofthepreviousimperialismsorperhapstheirsource,anditisnotsohidden.RussiaandAmericahaveoftenagreedintheirdraftsontheneedtokeeptheknowledgeandtherealityofnuclearweaponry to themselves. Some of the progressiveAmericans andRussianswouldbe shocked if theyweretoldthatthisamountstoweapons-imperialismofthewhiteagainstthecoloured.Thecolouredpeopleshaveindeednorighttofretorfume.TheyaremorethanwillingtostockpileanyoldconventionalweaponswhiletheypayworshipfulhomagetotheunilateralistdisarmerinEuro-America.Suchisthesplitmindofthecolouredman.Onceagainitisnotaquestionofblameoraccusation,butofsimplerecognitionofasituationinwhichonepartofmankindpossessesalmost theultimate inweapons. Price-loot-imperialism is thefifthoneinthiscategorywithwhichIshallstopthepresentenumeration.Pricemovementandthetermsoftradearealmostalwaysunfavourabletoagricultureand the producer of rawmaterials. If the prices ofmanufactureshavegoneupbyahundredpercentinthelasttenyears,primaryproducehasincreasedjustby74percent.Robberyonthisscorealonemustberunningintobillionseveryyear.Idaresaythatthereis a similar internal price-loot in the relationshipbetweenmanufacturesandprimaryproduce.Butthatisaggravatedtoaverylargeextentbythepresenceofindirect taxation.Onehearsalmosteverydayofforeign aid and thephilanthropicmotives involvedinit.Thetakerofgiftsmustindeedbecontriteandhumble, at least until the taker has learned not tomisusegiftsandbothheandhegiverhavebecomeawareoftheworldsituationasawhole.However,oneneverhearsoftheprice-lootinherentineveryitemofinternationaltradebetweenthewhiteandthecoloured.Againsteachoftheseimperialisms,IndiaandChinaandalltheothercolouredpeoplesshouldhavebeenabletoactwithfirmnessandinunison.Theyshould,ofcourse,havemadeeveryefforttoincludesuchwhitepeoplesintheirranksand,infact,invitetoleadershipthosewilling to recognise theworld situation.Butnoneof thiswas to happen. I had sometimesday-

dreamedinmyearlieryearsthatChinaandIndiaandthe just-mindedwhiteswouldbe able someday toknockatthedoorsofAustralia,SiberiaandCaliforniaandhavethemopened.Buttheknockinghastakenplaceelsewhere.Burstingwithsomekindofpower,oneknowsnotwhich,Chinahassoughttheeasywayout.ShehasknockedattheHimalayas.NottotalkofAustralia,shedidnotevenknockatHongKongorMacao.Shedidnothavestrengthenoughinherknucklesevenformeaslyenterprises.Shehaschosentoknockwhereshethoughtherstrengthsufficed.Iamcompelledtobelievethatthisshalleverremainatragedyofthehumanrace.Enthronedmanwillworknotfortheremovalofinjusticebutfortheattainmentof aims that liewithin his reach.The reachof thecolouredmanmust necessarily remain small, evenwicked,foralongtimeyet.Notmuchcan,therefore,be expected of the colouredman that sits on thethrone.Deliverancemustcome,ifiteverwill,fromthewhiteman.Hehas infinitelygreaterpowerandpotentially greater intelligence. If ever he sees theworld situation as awhole, hemay do somethingaboutit.Colouredpeoplesareindeednotoutofthearenaaltogether.Suchofthemwhomlittlepacketsofpowerdonotcorruptmaytakeawiderviewandthemorerisky initiative. Imust,however,addan itemtothetheoryofthestrugglebetweenthewhiteandcolouredpeoples.Thisstrugglewillbeovercome,ifatall,bytheintelligenceofthewhiteasmuchasbytheself-interestandradicalismofthecoloured.

Soviet SuperiorityI rather turn towardsRussia andAmerica. I do

notintendtomakeaverycloseexaminationoftheirrespectivemeritsinregardtothefiveimperialisms.Sofar,neitherhasshownmuchmeritorintelligence.Some rough isolated trends may be indicated.TheRussians seem to have beenmorewilling tocommunicate their skills of the steel industry toIndians than theWest European has been.Theyhave also charged lower rates of interest on theirinvestment.Thiswoulddemonstratetheirsuperiorityinrelationtoproductivity-imperialism,althoughinaverysmallway.Americans,ontheotherhand,havebeenwillingtotakecolouredsettlersintoCalifornia,althoughonlynominally.Colouredstudentsattheiruniversities are apparentlymore numerous than attheRussianuniversities.Howfar this isdue to the


willingness of colouredgovernments to open theirstudentstoAmericanismratherthanRussianismandhow far to the inclination ofRussia to emphasisea particular type of general education rather thantechnical and scientific skills at least for foreignstudents ismore than I can say. Russian recordagainst open imperialism, of political dominationbyonepeopleoveranother,hasinrecentyearsbeen

undoubtedlysuperiortotheAmerican.Wouldtherebeafutureimprovementofachievementsinrespectof thefive imperialismsenumeratedhere,andwhowouldbebetter—RussiaorAmerica?IhopeandpraythatbothRussiaandAmericainwhosehands,morethan anyothers, rests the betterment of the humanrace,willbecomeequallyawareoftheworldsituationasawhole.

[The Illustrated Weekly of India, 12th August 1962]

Nospectreishauntingtheworldoranypartofit.Thetwodecadesafterthelastworldwarhavebeencuriouslyanti-revolutionary.Someearlierrevolutionswereindeedbroughttofruitioninthisperiod.Butnonewrevolutionhasgerminated.VariousregimessuchasthoseofRhee,BalewaandNkrumahhavetoppled.Butthatisnorevolution,noreorderingofthesocialstructureorinflamingofmen’smindsandengaginginsuchactivityaswouldliftapeopleoutofslime.

What took place in the fortieswas bringing tofruitionofanearliergestationsuchas inIndiaandChina.The revolution in India succeeded in 1947,butwas arrested immediately after. Such arrestedrevolutionshavebeen themarkalmosteverywhereof new-won freedom.TheChinese revolution of1949wasnotafreedomrevolutioninthatsense, itwasaunityrevolutionthathadstartedintheseconddecadeofthecentury.Thatthecommunistsbroughtittofruitionhasindeedgivenitaspecialcharacter,wellworthexamining.Itiscertainlynotanarrestedrevolution.

CubaandVietnamaretheonlytwoexamplesthatsomemayliketociteagainst thehypothesisof thepost-warworld being anti-revolutionary.Vietnam’sisnorevolution.Itistolargeextentahotextensionofthecoldwaramongnations,pocket-editiononenodoubt,and,therefore,areflectionofcontendingsocialfeatures.Cuba is not very different,with a strongdoseofnationalpridethrownin.AssumingCubaforargument’ssaketobesomewhatdifferent,ithasbutmarginalimportfortheworld.

Theperioduntiltheoutbreakofthelastworldwarwascharacterisedbyuncertainty,anxiety,expectancyandtheairofsomethingabouttohappensomewhereevery other day.This held goodofEurope and itsmost advanced countries.Mr.Churchill had calledout armoured cars on the streets ofLondon in thetwenties. For almost four years between1929 and1933,Germanylivedcontinuouslyinexpectancyofarevolution,nottotalktotheearlierspartacusandothereffortsimmediatelyafterthewar.Spainactuallygaveadaytocelebrate,whenitskingabdicatedafteralongseriesofnewsalternatingbetweenhopeandsorroworanger.BeforeItalywentfascist,therewasthesocialistexpectancy.

Euro-Americaofthetwentiesandthethirtiesstillknewdepression.Themiseryofthepeoplebredanair of expectancy.Therewas always the breath ofrevoltinit.Europeanpeoplescannotacceptmiseryandprematuredeathbeyondacertainpoint,certainlynotwhenitisnottheresultoftheirwilledresolve.Indyingoffamine,andotherformsofforceddeath,thepeopleofIndiaaretodaytheheroofallhistory;meek,resignedanddyinglikeantsorflies;indyingofrevoltandwar,decisionsthatpartakeofwillandresolve,theEuropeanpeopleshavebeensomewhatready.Theymightnothavealwayscalculated,but,inactualresult,deathcomesmuchlessfrequentlyto theseareasofrevoltandwarthantothoseofresignationtofate.Asmiseryhasbeencomparativelyabsent,thepost-warEuropeanhasshownnorevolutionarydesires.

Automation, cybernetics andmanipulation ofinvestmentshavegiventoEuro-Americatheaffluent

Revolution Arrested


society,anever-growingeconomy.Technologyseemstomakeitpossiblesomedaytoproduceasmuchofessentialcommoditiesasanyonemightwant,therebydestroyingtheneedtobuyorsell.Onewilljustpickupasmuchasonewantsofwhateveronewishes.Butthatistobeinthefuture.Inthepresent,hungerhasmoreorlessbeenbanishedfromEuro-America,thereforealsorevolution.WedonotunderstandwhatstupidroutinesandhabitofthoughtarepreventingAmericansfromdeclaringbreadandmilkfreeintheirfavouredland,aproceedingwhichiseconomicallypossibleforthemtocarrythroughwhenevertheywish.TheRussiansareyearningtoachievesuchastate,buttheyarenotyetinasituationtodoso.

Affluence due to technology and regulatedinvestment has revolutionised economic thinkingin some places. Even conservatives, economistsincluded,ofacertaintypehavestartedpropagatingthe ideaof a guaranteedminimum income. In thatfavouredland,everysonofamother,andofcourseeverydaughter,musthaveacertainmonthlyincomeguaranteed.Whetheronworksornot,orsimplylollsawayinbedoronturf,thismoneyisone’srightfuldue,somekindofalegallyprovidedAmericaneditionofan IndianSadhu.Theproposedguarantee to theincomeofanAmericanSadhufamilyoftwoadultandthreechildrenamountsintermsofpresentrupee-dollarrelationtoaroundRs.1500/-amonth.Spectresdonothauntsuchasociety,whereitispossibletoday-dreamofmannafallingfromheaven.

But theother two-thirdsof theworldhavebeenthereallthetime,theworldoffilthandforceddeath.Whyhavetheynotbeenrevolutionary?Mostofthemhavemovedoraremovingintoastateofphysicalandpolitical freedom.Revolutionhasnonethelessbeenawayfromthem.Thegreatestsinglereasonprobablyliesintheirstateofmindbornofaquiescentculture,whichtheyhavenotyetthoughtouttoitsend,despiteoutwardlyrevolutionarychanges.Ofthis,however,onsomeotheroccasion,althoughitiscertainlyforIndiathemostimportantsinglereason.

We shall here talk of the two obviously urgentfactors thathavemade theAfro-AsianpeoplesandthoseofLatinAmericaanti-revolutionary.Oneliesinthemandtheotheroutsidethem.Theyhaveadopted

themodeofmodernisationoftheconsumptionoftheirelite, before they havemodernised the productionmodesoftheirmasses.Luxurygoesup.Forsome,itisluxuryalmosta’laAmerica.Forsubstantiallylargenumbers it is luxury on decreasing scales.Addedto this is the colossalwaste of overstaffingdue torelationship,casteorpressuresofgrouppolitics.Somuchlessisleftforinvestment.Economystagnatesandwithitthesociety.Foralongwhile,thiscriminalluxury andwaste is concealedunder the deceptiveslogansofnationaldignityandneedsofrepresentation.Inthismanner,theeliteofarevolutionarrestsit,afterit has succeeded, either because of natural greedand indolence or because ofmisunderstanding ofwhatismodern.Whatcanbeaworsemedievalismthan towish tomodernise the consumption of anelite, ofwhich the erstwhile revolutionary forms aconsiderablepart,beforethepeople’sproductionhasbeenmodernised.

To this has been added the external factor ofrevolution by order in the fifties and later. SovietRussiahasbecomeafactorininternationalpoliticsalmostasimportantastheU.S.,insomewaysmoreso.Two such giantsmust evolve viablemodes ofliving togetherwithout all the time coming intoconflict.SovietRussiahasthereforehadtoevolveaschemeofrevolutionthatdoesnotallthetimebringitintoconflictwithAmerica.Theevolutionofsuchaschemewaspossiblewithouttoogreatastrainonrevolutionaryconscienceand in themeasure thatasuccessfulandaffluentgovernmentmaybeexpectedtopossess.

Asubstantialnumberofnewlyindependentlands,particularly India, have yielded to a leadership ofsterileMarxists,who have knownhow to professrevolution without practising it. These volublerevolutionaries have adopted the current Euro-American philosophy of technological revolutionwithregulatedinvestmentsoccasionallyinthepublicsector.Wheneverthisleadershipisunderpressure,itsprofessionofrevolutionarypoisechallengedsharply,itraisesashrilloutcryinfavourofthepublicsector.Ifithastoattacktheprivatesectorinsomeofitsminorormediumexpressions like life insurance, itmorethanmakesupbyprovidingprivatecontractoringinthepublicsector.ThissuitsSovietRussiaperfectly.It


doesnothavetoinitiateorhelppeople’srevolutions.Allitneedstodoistoevolveatheoryofinstitutionalchangeslikethepublicsector,whichwillprovidetheframeworkandthedisciplineforanylatertakeoveroftheeconomybythepeople.

From President Soekarno of Indonesia to ex-presidentNkrumahofGhana over theNehrus andIndirasoftheIndia,thisleadershipofsterileMarxistsstrides the emergent lands.Revolutionbyorder asconfermentofaboonfromabovewithoutpermittingtoogreatstrivingfrombelowistheirprinciple.Intheprocess,theyknowhowtolivewell,theyandtheircrowd.Someofthesehavebeenkickedoutofofficeby their peoples,who alas have not yet anywheredisplayedtheuncertainty,anxietyandexpectancythatprecedesarevolution.

At this point, theChina-brand revolutionariesmightexclaimthattheyhavebeenleftoutofthisanti-revolutionaryworldpicture.TheChinese and theiradherentsalltheworldoverarenomorerevolutionarythanaretheRussians,WestEuropeansorthesterileMarxistAfro-Asians.Theygo through themotionsof revolutionwith somewhat greater sincerity butthatisall.FromanaccountoftheNorth-Vietnameserevolution published elsewhere as a document theferocityandthoroughnessofsomechangesisquiteevident.Wedonotwishtoraiseherethequestionofendsandmeans.Admittingforamomentthatendsjustifymeans,thequestionstillremains:whathappensafter the end has been achieved.A stagnant ruralsocietymustbecomedynamicaftersuchanupheaval.Towhatendisthisdynamismusedafterwards?Therevolutionanimalisedinitsprocessesmaycontinueto remain so afterwards in its ends.The ends andmeansequalisersarehoweverunderanobligationtoprovethatalltheyarecapableofisnotjustanarrestedrevolution.Arevolutionmonsteredisperhapsaweebitbetterthananarrestedrevolution.

ThediseaseoftheChineserevolutionand,allotherspatternedonit,ispeculiarandarisesoutofaneventuniqueinhistory.Thesearerevolutionsofequalityandtiedonewithanotherinthekinshipofadoctrineofequality.BeginningwithRussia, thefamilyisatthemomentseekingtomultiplyinVietnam.However,muchtheRussiansandtheChinesemayabuseeach

other andMarxists of different hues call this thatrevolution perverted or distorted,most of themdonotdenythiskinship.ThefactofthiskinshipplacesacountrysoobviouslywrongedasIndiainapositionof disadvantage towrong-doer China among allkinsmen,fortheydeeplybelieveintheirpaternity.Butthetroublestartswhenthewrongingstartswithinthefamily.InequalitywithAmericacanonlyangerChinaintoanotherferociousspurt.InequalitywithRussiarankles,foritisagainstthedoctrine,againstpaternity.

Therevolutiongoeswildwithgrief.Thedoctrinedoesnothelpunderstanding.Aslongasthenationistherewithitsfrontiers,communismasaphilosophyofgovernmentmustperforceplay itselfoutwithinthosenationalfrontiers.Russiamustnecessarilyworkoutitsaffluenceandsuchequalityasitmaywithinitsfrontiers.Butthedoctrinehadspokenotherwise.ChinahoweverrefusestobelievethatitsdoctrineofMarxismisnoanswertothechallengeofinequalityamong nations, howevermuch itmight achieveequalitywithinthenation.Therevolutiongoeswildwithinabilitytounderstand.Itbeginstoprowland,asisusualwithbeasts,attacksweakervictims.ItdoesnotattackAmerica.ItdoesnotattackRussia,thefaith’straitors.ItdoesnotattackAustralia,norevenTaiwan,HongKongorMacao. It attacks theHimalayas. ItorganisesrevolutioninVietnam.ColouredsentimentinChina’sfavourinanillusion.Becauseofitsfaithin force and organisation,Chinamust necessarilychooseweakervictimswhichcanonlybecolouredpeoples. IfSovietRussiahasbecome theexponentof revolutionbyorder,China is fast becoming theteacher of revolution by force and organisation.Doctrinalspontaneityisfinished.Ithasbeenreplacedentirelywithcalculation, forceandorganisation. IfAmericansbelieveinorganisationandintheC.I.A.toenforcetheirwillinalltheworld,theChineseareequallyferociouswiththeirbeliefinorganisationandincompulsionforsuchcommunistandalliedelementsashaveacceptedtheirwill.Organisationisafterallamotherofcalculation.Itcanbebroughttobearonlyagainstaweakercombination.True,withoutforceororganisation,nothingprobablyhaseverbeendone.Butwe appear now to have entered an era,whereorganisationandforcereignsupreme,wheretheideaisatbestsecondaryandatworstatool.Itistheageofthejoylessrevolution.


Somediscerning sociologists are looking into afuture of joyless plenty, of joyless automation andjoyless technology, where everythingwould beplentiful but repetitious andmonotonous.Already,the revolution has become joyless and amatterofmechanicalmotions. In the shape of theworldcommunistrevolution,itdecidesthatRhodesiaisnotasimportantasVietnamandnecessarymotionsaremechanicallyexecutedthroughouttheworld.Itmakesthedecisionnotonthemeritsofissuesinvolved,forwithoutadoubt thecaseofRhodesia isasclearasdaylightandofVietnamthemurkofdusk,butonthepossibilityofwheretheweightofforceororganisationcanbebroughttobearwithsuccess.

HowtotallyspontaneityandjoyhavegoneoutoftheworldcommunistrevolutionisevidentfromthewayIndiancommunistsofbothhuesarecontinuallyorganizingdemonstrationsoverVietnamortheatomandagainstAmerica.Amightypeople’supheavalnextdoor inEastBengaland the repressionwithwhichamilitary dictatorship seeks to smother it do notmovethem.Thepossibilitythatapeopleandcountryartificiallydividedmaybereuniteddoesnotputjoyintothem.Theyarestrangebeingswithshrivelledandorganisedsouls.

Whyconcentrateonthecommunists;initsothershapes, the revolution in India has been equallysoullessinrespectoftheEastPakistanandmuchelse.Noother political party has chosen to assemble ordemonstrateforthepeopleofEastPakistan,forthesecrowshavebeenbusyespyingwheretheirvoteslieinthegeneralelectiontocome.Thesecravensoulswouldnotgetthevoteseither,forifthevotemustgotomenofcalculationandlackinginvision,thegovernmentpartyqualifiesbest.

Nottotalkofissuesacrossthefrontier,thosenearerhome,suchasdevaluation,whichoccasionedspatesofwritten statements fromoppositionists decryingit as themost ignoble event of the twodecadesoffreedom,havemeltedawaylikeasurfaceripple.Notonemassmeetinghasbeenheldagainstdevaluationinthecapital,althoughit isnowamonthsincethegovernmentdecidedtocommitthecrime.Therehavebeen several onVietnamor cow killing orminor

aspectsofproperty.Revolutionariesarenottakingup,nottotalkofthequestionofpropertyassuch,justonemajoraspectofproperty,thatofhouse-rent.House-rentsinIndiaareninetimesashighasinRussiaandcommunistEurope,fortheretheyaveragearupeetothesquaremetreandherearupeetothesquarefoot.Averageincomeshere,particularlylowincomes,areone-sixthofthoseinRussia.One-sixth,theincomeandnine-fold,therent,andyetthepeopledonotrise,theyouthdoesnotstir,forthearrestedrevolutionhasacquiredacravensoul.

Gandhism has becomeworse than sterile; ithas acquired a priapistmind. It talks of unilateraldisarmament;itkillswithproxypowerandborrowedweapons.Thechallengeofpovertyathomedoesnotaffectitssmugness;thechallengeofinequalityandwaramongnationsisbeyonditsvolublebutmindlesscomprehension.

Iftheearliercanbefusedwithitslaterdevelopment,amovementwhich couldwell be lumped togetherunderthelabelofinternationalGandhismhascomeintoexistence.Ontheonehandisthenon-communist,peacemovementwithwar resisters atoneextremeandpledge-signersattheother.Ontheotherhandistheworldfederalistmovementwithminimalistswhosimplywanttheshellofaworldgovernmentatoneendandmaximalistsdesirousofworldconventionsanddisobedienceifnecessaryattheother.

The non-communist peacemovement has along past, in patches even uplifting.At one time,thePeacePledgeUnion inEngland countedmorethan tenmillion signers, but they allmelted awayat theGerman assault.Themarch toAldermaston,anatomicwarestablishment,andbacktoTrafalgarSquareshowedpromiseandhasbecomeanannualevent.But ithasbeguntodissolve,evenbeforeanassaultofanykindhasbeenmounted.ThepeopleofEnglandarenotslowtoseethathortatorymovementswhichsignawayfrontiersinaworldwhichiscutupintonationsareunreal.Amanliveswithinhisskin,hisfrontier,andmustneedsprotectitagainstattack.Solongasmenlivewithinnations,theymustneedprotecttheirnationalskin,thefrontier,againstattack.TheGandhianpeacemovementhasbeentooobliviousofexistingrealities.Ithasdreamedupasituationof


prayer,andthereforedevoidofrevolution.InitsshapeofcivilrightsforNegroesinAmerica,internationalGandhismmaywellclaim tohave registeredsomesuccess,forithasbuiltitsteethintoreality.Butonecanhardlycallitarevolution,atleastyet.

If thepeacemovementhas tendedtowishawaynational frontiers, theworld federalistmovementhasbeenfartoomuchawareofthem.Likeallmoralmovementswithout a sound political, economicandsocialbase, ithasbeenveryextravagant in itsdesiresandaims.Atonetime,itsoughttobuildtheAtlanticUnion, almighty on our planet.Then, itwidened its desires into aworld union and spreadintomanybranchesandsprouts.Onewantedexistinggovernments to accept theplanandconstitutionofaworld government andwith that end in view tosponsor campaigns and assemblies.Another stroveforacceptancebylocallegislaturesofaconstitutionforworldparliamentandaworldgovernmentwithminimumpowers to arise out of it.A third startedenlistingworld citizens and this agitation showedsomekick,forthefirstcitizenoftheworldtoreuphisnationalcitizenship.Afourthbeganpersuadingtownsandvillagestodeclarethemselvesfortheworld.Afifthsetabout tocampaignandorganise theconventionofaworldparliament, ifnecessary, at thepeople’slevel andwithout help fromnational governments.Alonethefifthsproutborewithinittheseedofgreatchange, for theworld conventionmightwell havesparkedoffcivildisobediencethroughouttheworldagainstnationalsovereigntyinmuchthesamewayastheFrenchconventionofthetenniscourtbegantherevoltagainstkinglysovereignty.Buttheseedisdead.

Today,alltheworldoverisspreadthelitteroftheseearliercampaigns.Honestmenarebusycyclostylingorprintingsheetsandmailingthemtoselectaddresses.Theycollectmessagesfrommenofrenownandprintthem in amanner befitting the particular celebrity.Theyprobablyhold thisor thatannualconvention.Howmuch devoted labour andmoney goes intotheseincestuouscampaignsforoneoranothertypeofworldfederalismisanybody’sguess.Buttheyareall hibernating, because theymistakenly imaginethey can formaworld government out of nationalgovernments,which is a contradiction in terms. Ifsovereigntyresideswithinnationalfrontiers,howdoes

itoranyportionofitleapoutsideofthem.Aworthyandstrongnucleusalonecanattractsuchaleap.Thiscannot be any existing national government.ThiscannotbeanyUnitedNationsorLeaguecomprisinggovernmentswithoneofthemoragrouptryingtorule.Thiscanonlybeaparliamentelecteddirectlybythepeoplesoftheworldwithregionalweightages,whose government responds to the challenge ofinequalitywithinnationsandwithout.

The sole hope for unequal andwarring nationslies in the search for peace through equality andequalitythroughpeace.Bothsearchesareofdecisivesignificance,andneitheriswhollytheconsequenceoftheother.Theseekerofpeacemaynotbefullyawareofthesearchforequalityandmayattheoutsetdisdainit.Theseekerofequalitymaybeequallyblinkeredattheoutset.Theirdevotionmaybeexclusive.Thewisewill not exclude suchblinkeredpersons fromthe scope of theirmovement.Theywill hope thatpassageoftimeandsympathywillbringtobothtypesofseekersgreaterconsciousness.Actionwhichmaybe somewhat crude and emphatically exclusive intheearlierstageswillclarifyitselfwithtimeandwillbecomewiselyrevolutionary.Peaceinstitutionalisedisworldparliamentandworldgovernment.Equalityinstitutionalisedisacceptanceofcomparativelyequalproductivity toman’s labour anywhere irrespectiveofnationalfrontiers.Wheneffortismadetowedtopeaceinstitutionalisedtoequalityinstitutionalised,therevolutionofourtimeswillhaveemerged.

The Euro-American peoples have greaterunderstanding for peace and federalism and theypossess resources forworldwide campaigns andtravels.Afro-Asians,unable tomeeteffectively thechallengeofpovertyandinequality,whichpressonthemmorethanonEuro-Americans,havenotmuchunderstandingforpeaceandfederalism.Andyettofederatethesevariousinitiatives,whoseframeworkis littered all over the world, and make theminterpenetratemaywell lead to creative situations.Mankindwillbegladtobeofhelp.

The revolution for equality hasmet a strangefoeinonewhowasearlieritsmostvirileadherent.Communismproudlyproclaims today that it isnotfor equality.A little shame-faced for having been


suchavotaryforequalityandhavingnowtoexplainthegrowing inequalityandaffluence incommunistlands,communismloudlydeniesitsownwomb.Oneistemptedtoaskifcommunismisinequality,or,isitneitherequalitynorinequality.Therevolutionforequalitymust run itsowncourse,hoping that timewouldhelpcommunismrectifyitserrors.Trueenoughthatequalitycanneverperhapsbewhollyorperfectlyrealised.Butequality ismoreanurge thanits totalfulfilment.Itwillalwayshavetoovercomeblocks.Someof thesewill occasionally prove difficult orwellneighimpossible.Buttheurgemustevercomeonanewtotakeupthebattleagain.

ArayofhopeappearedinIndiaaroundtenyearsago.Thiswasthetheoryofpermanentcivildisobedience.Thetheorywascorrect.Inpractice,afterthefirstyears,ithasprovedtobe,adampsquib,atleastsofar.Tocombinepermanentcivildisobediencewithpermanentdemocracy and elections and debate has proveddifficult.Moreoftenthannot,thepracticeofeitherishalting,reservedandcrooked.Whileundergoingajailtermorworseduringdisobediencetotyranny,themindturnstoelectionsandtheirorganisationand

thewishtosecurereleasethroughbailorcompromisebecomesinsistent.Whilearguinganissueoutinitsfullnessandwhenatalosstoanswertheopponent,thecivillydisobeyingdemocratisinclinedtoclinchtheissuebyreferringtotheextraneousargumentofstruggleandsacrifice.Itisnotsoeasilyopentomanto follow twopaths at the same time, togive totaldevotiontothepathheistreadingandtoswitchtotheotherwhenoccasionsodemands.Whenmenarguenotwithaviewtodazzleortomaketalkingpoints,althoughsomespicedstylesarenecessarytodramatiseissues,debateishonestlydemocraticandenlightensthepeople.Thisrequiresofthedemocraticdebater,study and thinking. Similarly, civil disobediencerequires faith andpatience,willingness to toil andsufferwithouttastingthejoyofvictoryandtolaytheheaddownwithpeaceinthesoul,shouldthetimeforitarrivebeforethecausehaswon.Thecombinedtheoryof civil disobedience and democratic debate looksforward toa futurewhen the reigning tyrannywilltoppleinaclimaxofmassdisobedienceorelectoralvictory.Therevolutionforequalityandpeaceisalive,althoughhibernating.

[July-August 1966]

ChapterVoftheCriminalProcedureCode,fromsections 106 to 146, supposedlymakes provisionfor the prevention of crime.But these sections oftheCodeputtheordinarycitizenwithoutmoneyorpower or status so completely at themercy of theexecutivethatinsteadofpreventingcrime,theyhavebecomeinstrumentsforturningordinarypeopleintocriminals.WhilethepolicecanhaulupanyoneunderSection107forallegedapprehensionofabreachofpeace,orunderSection109,forbeingwithoutanyostensiblemeansoflivelihood,sectionslike144canmake democratic functioning impossible.Off andon,wehearacryraisedagainsttheDefenceofIndiaRulesorthePreventiveDetentionActinParliamentor outside in newspapers or conferences.But oneseldomhears anyone protesting against the abovesectionsof theCr.P.C.Thereasonprobablyis that

Civil Liberties and The Criminal Procedure CodetheD.I.R.ortheP.D.Actdirectlyaffectedthevocalmiddleclasses,particularlythoseinoppositiontothegovernment,whilesectionsoftheCriminalCodeareusuallyemployedagainstordinaryinnocentpeople.ThisisyetanotherexampleofthebasicsplitinIndia’ssocialmind, inwhich a denial of human rights totheordinarypeoplereducedtothelevelofanimalsisnotconsideredworthpayinganyattention.Onaconservativeestimate,atleastathirdorevenmoreofthejailpopulationinIndiaatanyonetimeconsistsof people arrested under any of these preventivesections,notbecausetheyhaveactedagainstthelaw,butbecausesomepoliceofficerstatesthathethinksaparticularpersonislikelytocommitacrime.Fortheordinarypeople,imprisonmentwithoutanyoffencehasexistedfornearlyahundredyearsandstillexists,twodecadesafterthepeoplebecamefreeandadopted


bother,fortherulingsahibsareabovetheoperationoftheselaws.

Ontheotherhand,therehasgrowntostaggeringproportionsanothertypeofcrime,organisedcrime,inwhichasectionofthe‘sahibs’alsoareinvolved.Financial swindlesandmanipulationsareone suchcrime.Smugglingisanother.Weallknowaboutthesmuggling of gold, inwhich the internal price ofaboutRs.140pertengramsasagainstRs.80intheinternationalmarket,leadstothesmugglingintoIndiaofcroresofrupeesworthofgoldeveryyear.Whatisnotsowellknownisthesmugglingoutofopium,akilogramofwhichbringsRs.40tothefarmer,butissoldforRs.400tothecustomerinIndia,andforRs.900abroad.Thesefantasticpricesarethemselvesanopeninvitationtosmuggling.

Onaconservativeestimate,anywherefromRs.50crorestoRs.100croresworthofopiumissoldeitherillegallyinIndia,orsmuggledout.

Intherunningoftheserackets,thereisanallianceofthecriminalwiththepoliceandthebigmen—bigin terms ofmoney and power.As a consequence,byandlarge,thecriminalsareabletocarryontheirworkunhinderedwhiletheotherpartiesinthealliancereceiveacut.

Anon-Congressgovernmentshould,ononehand,repeallawslikethoseinChapterVoftheCriminalProcedureCode.Theordinarycitizens’libertymustnot be at themercy of a petty district police oradministrative officer.Citizenship in itself shouldacquireastatusintheeyesoflaw.Theargumentthatreductioninthepowersoftheexecutivewouldleadtomaladministrationanddisorderiswhollyfalseandfallacious.On the contrary, a statewith excessivepowers invariably leads to a set-up inwhich thetendencyistowardsmoreandunlimitedpowers,whilenoproblemissolved,andcrimescontinuetoincrease.Infact,nosocietycangrowinahealthfulwayonthebasisonlyormainlyofthecoercivepowerofthestate.Thedynamicsforgrowthanddevelopmentcancomeonlythroughfreeacceptance.Andforthattheordinarysmallman’sfreedomshouldbesecured.

ademocraticconstitution.

Itmay be said that people arrested under thesesections are produced in courts of law, and arepunished only through a judicial process.But theIndian judicial system is soweighted in favour ofproperty and status that an ordinary citizen standsalmostnochance.The tensofmillionpeople,whoarewithoutregularemployment,havenostatusintheeyesofthelaw.Itisnotuncommonforapersontobeinjailasanundertrialformonthsorevenyearsforanallegedoffenceforwhichhecouldbesentencedforafewweeksatthemost.

The fact of the matter is that the CongressgovernmenteagertoestablishitselfasthesuccessortoBritishrule,ratherthantothepopularrevolution,blindlyacceptedalltheoppressivelawsthattheBritishhad framed to keep the Indian people in bondage.Section144oftheCr.P.C.isanexampleofit.ArguingintheAllahabadHighCourtagainsttheconstitutionalvalidity of this section,RammanoharLohiamadeaguess thatwhen theCr.P.C.was framed in1888,thissectiondidnot include theclauseaboutpublictranquillity.Onmakingareference,thecourtfoundLohia’sguesstobecorrect.Whenthecriminalcodewasframed,theBritishrulershadaimedatrestrictingthepeople’sfreedomofmovementandassociationinthecontextofinternal,non-politicaltrouble.Themindthatconceivedthissection,probablyalsoconceivedaset-upwhereininternaldissensionsweretobekeptalive,butnotallowedtogooutofcontrol,sothattheBritishcouldremainasimpartialprotectorsandjustrulers.Butwhenpopularpoliticalmovementsbegantotakeshape,thesamelawwasamendedtoincludepoliticalsituationsaswell.

TheCongress governments have inmanywaystriedtoemulatetheBritishexample,andintheprocessidentifiedthemselveswiththeclassof‘Sahibs’whichtheBritishhadnurturedforthesupportoftheirraj.This class has now increased to about 10million,againstthe490millionordinarypeoplereducedtoalifeofdumbanimals.Thesedumbmillionscontinuetobeoppressedbylawslikesection107or109,andsometimespoliticalopponentsofthegovernmentarealsoropedin,andthevocalelementsofsocietydonot


Webelievethatevenforcheckingorganisedcrimeinwhichthebigmanisalsoinvolved,thestateneednotacquireanymorepowers.Itcoulddowithless.A statewith limited powers, if no longer engagedmainlyinoppressingthesmallman,wouldnaturally

beexpectedtoturnmorevigilanteyetotheorganizedracketeering,whichcorruptsnotonlyoureconomy,but the society as awhole and hampers healthfulgrowth.

[January-February 1967]

Amost fantastic situation prevails in India,unparalleledintheworld.TheUnionPublicServiceCommission holds an examination for recruitmentto the IndianAdministrative Service every year.Outofatotalof20,000candidatesappearingintheexamination,abarehundredqualifyforadmissionintheservice;afewhundredmorearelatertakenintovarious other central government services like, theIncomeTax,Customs,Railways,AuditsandAccountsetc.Ahundredoutofa20,000!Thissocialleprosywithitsfesteringwoundsandsoresshouldmakethepeople, their leaders and rulers, their educationistsandsociologists,theireconomistsandplanners,theirintellectualsandsocialworkerssituptofindoutwhatiswrongwithoursystemandseekoutremedies.ButinIndiaeverythingisaccepted,takenforgranted,sothiscursetoogoeson.Insteadoffightingittoothandnail,thissocialmalady,too,isallowedtogoon,itistakingfirmrootssinceindependence.Innoothercivilizedcountry,atanyratenotintheEurope-Americanworldwoulditeverbeaccepted.

Butthen,perhapswearenotcivilizedenough.Innoothercountrythereisgreaterdisparityinincomeandexpenditure,between the topelite and the restofthepeople.Suchayawninggulfistherebetweenonecrore,thetopelite,westerneducatedorwestern-imitation-educated,theBuraSahibsaswecallthemin India; and the rest, the forty-nine crores livingan animalish life, herded togetherwith ameal ofbelowminimumsubsistenceday.Onecroreearningand spending anywhere between hundred to fifty

thousandrupeesaday;andfortyninecroresanywhere,betweenthreeannasandfiverupeesaday.Thetopelite,theBuraSahibsareEuropeorientedinstandardofliving,butnotinthinking,leadinganunrealandhollowexistence.Therestofthepeopleareleadingananimalishexistence.Thisgreatgulfbetweenthesetwoclasses,amongotherthings,isthecauseofthisphenomenon: a hundred out of twenty thousandqualifyingforthebureaucracy.

Thisbringsustothenatureofbureaucracyinthiscountry.Itisthemostinefficient,corruptandatthesametimethemostarrogantandauthoritarianintheworld.This‘steel-frame’oftheBritishadministrationwhichwas transferred to Nehru alongwith thehistoric‘transferofpower’on15thAugust,1947was,transferredwithallthearroganceandauthoritarianismofthedepartedempire,whichwasoncenecessaryforthepreservationandglorificationoftheempire.Thepresentbureaucracytookthosevicesandaddedtheirnativeones,ofbeinginefficientandcorrupt,thecurrentviceoftherulingparty.Arroganceandauthority,oncenecessaryfortheconsolidationandcontinuationofanempireoverwhichthesunneverset,isnowbeingusedfortheconsolidationandpreservationofasystemanditsprivilegedmemberswhichhaslostallrationaleforexistence.Thisarroganceandauthorityissustainedbythefactthatahundred,outofatwentythousandemergeassuccessfulcandidatesforthetopmeninthebureaucracyeveryyear.Arudeandthoroughshakeup,whateverformitmaytake,cancurethediseaseandrestorenormalcyinthesystem.

[January-February 1967]

UPSC Examination


ArevealingnewsitemhascomeintheHindustanTimesof June11, 1967 indicatingwhat it costs tohavealargecabinet.

“Maintenance of the union cabinet costs theexchequerRs.22.23lakhsannually.Thisamountdoesnotincludeexpenditureontravellingbyministers.

“According to the latestestimate, thesalariesoftheministers,ministersofstateanddeputyministersaccountforRs.12.87lakhs,sumptuaryallowancestoRs.1.25lakhs,electricityandwaterchargestoRs.1.22lakhs,rentofresidentialbuildingstoRs.3.43lakhs,rentoffurnitureandelectricappliancesto3.44lakhs.

“ThecabinetministersdrawRs.9.67lakhsannuallyassalaryandasperquisites.TheamountinthecaseofministersofstateisRs.7.74lakhsandofdeputyministersRs.4.81lakhs.Ministersofstate,(exceptfour)anddeputyministersdonotgetanysumptuaryallowances.

“Themonthly breaking in the case of a cabinetminister is: salaryRs. 2,250, sumptuary allowanceRs.500,rentofbuildingRs.650,electricityandwaterchargesRs. 200 and rent of furniture and electricappliancesRs.642.

“This amount does not include expenditure ontravelling, theuseofstaffcar,secretarialandotherstaffprovidedtoministers,toenablethemtodischargetheirofficialduty,andmedicalfacilities.

“Forthepurposeofincome-taxthevalueoftherentfreeaccommodationisdeterminedat12.5percentofthesalaryandthevalueofwaterandelectricityas6.25percentofthesalary.”

TheabovenewsitemreportedinTheHindustanTimescannotbetakenasgivingthecorrectexpenditureas it containsonlynotional rates in calculating thehouse-rent,waterchargesandotherfacilitiestotheministers.The facilities and the staff alongwiththe attendants provided to thoseministers and thesecuritypersonnelthatstandinwaitingonthebodyofministersevenattheirresidences,numberinghundreds

Elite and Expenditureofpeoplealsoaretobetakenintoconsiderationalongwiththeirsalariesandtheotherexpenditureonthemfortheirmaintenanceincalculatingtheexpenditureonthecabinet.

Building rent being the notional rate is soinsignificantincomparisontothepresentdaymarketratethatinordertocometocorrectfiguresthemarketratemustbecalculated,inwhichcasethebuildingmaycostmanytimesmorethanwhatisactuallymentionedinthereport.

If the expenditurewithout taking into accounttravelling byministers, the use of staff car, thesecretarialandotherstaffandthemedicalfacilities,isreportedtobeRs.22.23lakhs,whatcouldbetherealfigureon theunioncabinetwhenall theseandotherexpensesarealsoadded.ItmustbesohugeanamountthatapoornationlikeIndiacanneverbeabletobearinthirtytosixtyyearstocome.

Whenthenationistoliveonforeignaidnoproperagricultural production in the offing, this hugeexpenditurerunningintocroresonthemaintenanceofcabinetministerscannotbeinanywayjustifiable.ThisisoneoftheglaringexamplesoftheupperclassonepercentofthepopulationofIndiaappropriatingthelion’sshareforthemselves.

NeitherhasthegovernmentofIndiarealisedthemagnitudeofwastenorhavethepeoplebecomesostrongastoforcetherulingpartytocutdownallthewasteful expenditure ofministers, administrators,businessmen,companydirectorsandtheliketoutilizethe same on nation-building projects. Facilities totheministers are so numerous and complicated tocalculate that a commonman can never come toknowwhat those departmental expense accountsare andhow theymanage to spendunderdifferentdepartments. Bureaucracy helps themwith cleanaudit.Andevenifonecomestoknow,thesecomfortsandfacilitiesaresotemptingthataftercomingtothepositionwheretheseareeasilyavailableonerarelythinksofthecountervailingfactors.Thefacilitiesandcomfortscorruptthemanwhocomestothatabodeof heaven and reaching that abode itself is a great


achievement;heforgetsthathehadbeenelectedtothat office by the poor people.He reaches a stagewherehepersuadeshimselftoequatehisoccupyingtheofficewithdoinggoodtothepeople.

SoTheHindustanTimes should calculate theexpenditureonamorerealisticbasis,andreporttothenationhowmuchofournationalwealththeministerseatup.

[July 1967]

9th ofAugust was andwill always remain apeople’sevent.15thAugustwasastateevent.But,asyet,15thAugustiscelebratedwithalotoffanfare,foronthatdaytheBritishViceroy,LordMountbattenshookhandswiththeIndianPrimeMinister,andgavedamagedfreedomtoadamagedcountry.9thAugust1942expressedthewillofthepeople—wewanttobefree,andweshallbefree.Forthefirsttimeafteralongperiodinourhistory,croresofpeopleexpressedtheir desire to be free. In someplaces itwas donewithgreatstrength.Onedistrict,Ballia,becamefreefor some time.The district collectorwas arrested.Hundredsofpolicecirclesbecamefree.Butthewillwasshort-lived,thoughstrong.Itdidnothavelastingintensity.Thedayournationacquiresatenaciouswill,weshallbeabletofacetheworld.Anyhow,thisisthe25thanniversaryof9thAugust1942. It shouldbecelebratedwell.Its50thanniversaryperhapswillbecelebratedinsuchawaythat15thAugustwillbeforgotten,andeven26thofJanuarywillbeputintotheshade,orwillonlyequalit.26thJanuaryand9thAugustareeventsofthesameclass.Oneexpressedthewilltofreedomandtheotherthewilltofightforit.

Amongallnationaldays,twoarebestknownintheworld.Oneis14thJulyofFrance.Onthatdaytherewasnodeclaration,nohandshake,nocelebration.OnthatdaythepeopleofParis,thecapitalcityofFrance,hadcomeoutinlakhs,hadbrokenthejailcalledtheBastilleandhadfreedprisonersoftheFrenchKinglodgedthere.Theotherdayis4thJuly.OnthatdaytheAmericanpeople,fightingagainstBritishimperialismfortheirfreedom,haddeclaredtheirindependence.Bothofthesearepeople’sdaysandnotastatedaylike15thofAugust.

Somemight think that this distinction ismerelyacademic, of interest only to the scholar. But it

indicates the roots of the tree.Thewriter of theselineshadrealisedwithinthreeorfourmonthsthatthetreewhichMahatmaGandhihadplantedbutcouldnotnurture,hadturnedsterileandwasgoingtorot.HehadalsowrittentoMahatmaGandhiaboutitinaletter.Butevenhedidnotrealisethedepthofthisrot.Suchlackofawarenessisinexcusable.Thoseinpoliticsshouldbefullyalert.

Afterindependencewasachieved,thebureaucracyandthepoliceremainedunchanged.Otherthingsalsocontinued as theywere, and somepeople realisedthat. But attention should have been paid to oneaspectofthebureaucracy.DuringtheBritishregimethe bureaucracy sustained the status quo andwasmeant to suppress thepeopleandsecureprivilegesfortheofficers.Thesituationdidnotimproveafterindependence. It becameworse.Theremust havebeen somegoodmen in the bureaucracy.But theywere ignored.The bureaucratwhowas given thehighest position in free Indiawas themanwho astheBritishagent inWashingtonhadgivenall sortsofargumentstojustifythedeathinjailofKasturba,MahatmaGandhi’swife,in1942.ThemanwasMr.GirijaShankarBajpai,whomAnglophilesliketocallSirGirijaShankarBajpai.TheremusthavebeenaspiritualkinshipbetweenMr.BajpaiandMr.Nehru.Howotherwisecouldsuchathinghappen.Itwasnota lone incidence. It has been a processwhich stillcontinues.Truthful, honest, and patrioticmembersofthebureaucracyarecontinuallysuppressed,theirgoodfeelingsarerepressed,andthosewhoarecruel,whokeepthecountryweakandmakethegovernmentofficer-orientedinsteadofpeople-oriented,riseandmakegains.

Themeaning of practical skill must soon beunderstood in this country.Who ismore practical,

August Revolution: Twentyfifth Anniversary


aMansingh or a Pratap?Among contemporaries,Mansingh is praised and Pratap is consideredobstinate.After death, Pratap isworshippedwhileMansinghiscondemned.WethinkthataPratapshouldalsobemorecareful,andwhenaMansinghcomes

tohim, treathimasa respectedguest.But there isnodoubtthatsolongasthecountrydoesnotlearntoappreciatePratapinhislifetime,itcan’tacquirethestrengthofdeterminedwillandresolutionwhichmakeanationgreat.

[August 1967]

Tobesomebodyortodosomethingisthequestioninourcountry,atleastthatoughttobethequestion.Solonghasphilosophyandreligionennobledtheideaofpureorexcellentbeinginthiscountry,thattheideaofdoinghasbeenrelegatedtoasecondaryifnotanunpleasantrole.Letamancleansehimselfofignobleideasandemotions.Lethimfreehimselffromthebasepassionsofarrogance,envyorselfishexpansion,inshort,climbing.Lethimtrytoachievepurityofbeing,for,otherwise,thecycleofrebirthcannotbebroken.

AfewYogismayhaveattainedthisidealandinfactsometypesofsocialorganisationinthepastmayhaveinsomemeasureachievedsuccess.Today,thisideaofexcellentorpurebeingstaysonpaperforalmostallourcountrymen,buttheyhavenotasaresulttakentotheideaofdoing.Somehowexcellenceofbeinghasdegeneratedintothedesiretoachievestatus,tobeabigshot,tobesoftspoken,politebuttointrigueandmanoeuvre,nottomakeenemiesoratleasttoomanyofthem,ifpossible,todonothing,buttoholdontoone’spositionandclimb.

AllpoliticsinthiscountryaftertheachievementofIndependencehavesufferedfromthisdiseaseofinaction.Governmentandoppositionconsistalmostentirelyofmenwhowouldratherbesomethingthandosomething.ThatiswhytheusualpropensityoftheIndian to stop atmakingdeclarations has receivedfurther impetus.Talk is the essential question.Tomakeadeclarationofwhathastobedoneinfutureis the essential point.Then, to quarrel about thesedeclarationsthathavenomeaningforthepresentandthatrelatetoafuturethatwillnevercomebecomesamainactivityofpoliticians.Thepeopletoowatchthisplaywithintenseinterest.Theyhavebecomeusedtolifeofnegationbutcontinualtalk.

For20longyearsCongressministershadspecialisedatthisskillofacquiringpositionsandbetteringtheirfortuneswithout doing anything at all or at leastnotmuch.This evil inheritance fell to the lot ofnon-Congressministers.On thewhole, they havemaintainedthattradition.Theyhavesometimeshadtocarryoutmeasures,whichdepartedsomewhatfromoldestablishedroutines.Buttheydidnotstretchouttheirneckstoolongortoooften.Tocontinueinthepositionthattheyhavecometooccupybecametheirmainoccupation.

We are no cliff-hangers.What is the use of anexistence inwhichone justmanages to keep alivewithoutbeingabletodoanythingatall.Wewouldmuchratherthatthesenon-Congressministriesengageinactionthatwouldmeanabreakwiththepast,thatwould change conditions, thatwould destroy oldrelationships in society and re-fashion them.Thiswouldinvolvetakingofrisks.Ifintheprocessofthisactivity,non-Congressministriessufferatemporarydefeateitheratthehandsofassemblymanoeuvresorbecauseofmanipulationsatthecentre,thiswillitselfbeaninstrumentofprogress.

Cliff-hangingoveralongperiodmustinevitablybringdisaster.Thewillandcapacitytotakerisksinthecauseofsocialandeconomicprogressmaymeanatemporaryfailurebutwillinevitablybringultimatesuccess.

Somekindofvoodooexistsinourpoliticstoday.Ontheonehand,non-Congressministriesandtheirparties in the various states are afraid of losingpower and bringing theCongress Party back intoseatsofauthorityandontheothertheseverypartiesare nervous about attempting a combination at the

To be Somebody


centre.Oneofthereasonswhytheyaresocharyofcombiningat thecentremaywellbethedesirenotto annoyor anger the centralCongress command,onwhosemercies these parties think they have todependfortheircontinuedexistenceinthestates.Thismustinevitablycrippletheircapacitytodoanythingworthwhileinthestates.

Furthermore,thisfearofCongresscomingbacktopowerinthisstateorthatstate,whenitissoverymuchinpoweratthecentre,deservestobepsychiatricallyexamined.Inthefirstplace,whyshouldtheCongresscomebacktopower?Anumberofcombinationsandpermutations of totally new types have emerged.Secondly,iftheCongressPartycomesbacktopowerasaresultofthenon-Congresspartiesattemptingtoachievearadicaltransformationofsociety,thatpowershallindeedbe,exceedinglyshort-lived.TheCongresswillearnfurther infamyor lossofstrength.Atanysubsequent election or Parliamentary encounter,this Partymaywell be reduced to an insignificantexistence.

Arethesenon-Congresspartiescapableoftakinganyrisks in themonths tocome,evenif theyhavenotshownanyheartwarmingindicationsofitinthepast fewmonths?Leaders of these various partieshaveshownthattheylackbothconvictionandwill.But, not unoften have the rank and file of thesevarious parties demonstrated their capacity to risktheirlivesoratleasttosuffer.Suchoccasionshaveindeed been rare.Most of the time, the rank andfilehavebeen silent spectators.But just those rareoccasions,whentheyhavestrivenhardforthesuccessofaschemeorsufferedimprisonmentforonecauseoranotherholdoutapromisethatthesituationmaystillchange.

Whatwouldbethebestformofattackonthepresentugliness?Wedonotthinkthatthetimehascomeforanewandeffectivepartytobeborn.Wealsodonotthinkthatexistingpartiescansinglyachievenationalre-construction.Evenacrippledcombinationisnotinsight,foralthoughsuchacombinationmaynotbeabletoachieveanythingenduringorspectacular, itwillhaveat least inspired thepeoplewith thenewfaithandhopethattheCongressPartyisoutalsoatcentre.Thereseemstobeonlyonewayout.

Thepeoplemusttrytobuildsingleaimorganisations.Suchorganisationsshouldbeopentoeverybody.Noparticularpartyshouldbeabletocommandthem.Theleadershipoftheseorganisationsshould,insignificantmeasure,comefromthosewhodonotbelongtoanyoftheexistingparties.Butamajority,however,ofthisleadershipwillhavetocomefromexistingpoliticalpartieswhichfinditpossibletosubscribetotheiraim.

Quiteobviously,onesuchsingleaimorganisationisandmustbethefixorregulatepricesconference.Thisconferencehasinthepasthadtwoannualmeetings.Butitismoribundinthelastfewyears.Infactonemaywellforgetitspast.Onecouldwriteonacleanslate.Adifficultywillnaturallyariseastohowtofixprices.

Somewillsaythatexpansionofthepublicsectorand state trading is the remedy. Some otherswillmaintain that removal of controls and freeing ofenterprise is theremedy.Tous, thesecontroversiesappearirrelevantandevenstupidintheIndiancontext.Businessandbureaucracyhavebothfailed.Totrusteithertodothejobbyitselfwouldbetherankestfolly.They have learnt each other’s vices andwhatevervirtuesthepublicsectorortheprivatesectorhaveinothercountries,havemoreorlessbeengivenupinourcountry.

Amainremedyistoattacktherotwhereitstarted.Excessive expenditure of the top crust, of just onepercentofthepopulation,of5millionsoutof500millions,iswheretherotstarted.Tothismustbeaddedtheancillaryrotofprovidingforrelations,hangerson,andcastemenandinsomecasespeoplewhowouldotherwisecreatetroubleasaresultofunemployment.Anyfixpricesconferencewill thereforehavetobeat the same time a reduce excessive expenditureconference.Wemustmake clear that bureaucracyspendsnotaloneitssalariesbutasageneralrule10timesmorebywayofvariousamenities thanwhatitobtainsassalary.Aside fromcertain relationshipwhichsalepricemusthavetocostsincludingtransportoragriculturaltoindustrialprice,theentirepopulationmustexperiencethejoyofequalscarcityinatleastonesignificantcommodity.

An irrigation volunteers conference could beanothersuchsingleaimorganisation.Trueenough,


between the twomillstones of indefensible luxuryofthefewandtheillnourishmentandindolenceofthemany,volunteerworkhas justbeengroundoutofexistence.Amongthemanyoffencesof thepasttwentyyears is the crime that allworkof nationalreconstructionhasbeenbrought in termsofprofitsand wages and similar payment. Nevertheless,volunteering is thepre-conditionofnationaluplift.Inthecourseofirrigationvolunteering,questionsofconflictrelatingtolandredistribution,money-lenders’interest,minimumwages, poorman’s homesteadand the likewillhave tobebrought to the fore,asalso thecentralproblemofouragriculturenamely,simultaneous fixing ofminimum production peracreandprovisionofminimumrequirementsforthepurposeandconfiscationoflandincaseoffailure.

Wewillnowonlylistsingleaimconferences,someofwhichhavearecordbuthavebecomemoribundandtherefore,allofwhichhavetobestartedfromscratch.Thirdly,theAngreziHataoConference,fourthly,theEndCasteConference, fifthly, theHindu-Muslimapproximationand Indo-PakRe-unionConference.Aboutthisfifthorganisation,letitbeonlysaidthatHindu-MuslimapproximationandIndo-Pakre-unionaretwosidesofthesamecoinandoneisimpossibleof attainmentwithout theother.A sixth single aimorganisation could simply be the Save CountryConference.

The country is beset with perils all round,disintegrationalmostallalongthefrontierinwhichforeigners also play a part and disintegration overthe length and breadth of the country because ofthe rise of separatist nationalisms.Certainmajordisintegrations due to caste or languageor incomedifferenceshavealreadybeenshownasthescopeofspecificorganizationsliketheEndCasteConference.HerewearedealingwiththegeneralperilandthatcanbestbetackledbyaSaveCountryConference.Amajor peril certainly is the bureaucracy and thepolice, its tyrannyon the onehand and corruptionontheother.Noonedarestouchit,fortheusageofmanycenturiesofforeignrulehassanctifiedit.Oncetheremedyofabolitionofcollectorswassuggestedand,ifthatappearstobetoodrasticaremedyatthefirstshot,thepeopleandtheyouthparticularlymustbeorganisedtotameandcurbthebureaucracyand

thepoliceinsomeofitspractices.

Theword‘conference’shouldnotbemisled.Itisnotamereannualgathering.Itisadaybydayaffair.Thewordispreferredbecausenostrictorelaborateconstitutionisnecessary.Thesevariousconferenceshere suggested are an integratedwhole arisingoutof the concept of equality through prosperity andprosperitythroughequality.Butall thepeoplemaynot be able to accept thewhole. Somewhowillpassionately devote their energies to the abolitionofcastemayhaveblindspotsinregardtolanguageand income differentiation and the reverse is alsotrue.Thatiswhythesesingleaimorganisationshavebeensuggestedinorderthatthemaximumnumberofpeoplemaybemobilised.

Theeditorsofthejournalwillbehappytoreceivelettersfrompeoplewishingtoorganiseoneconferenceoranotherandactivitycenteringarounditintheirownarea.Thosewhoarealreadyofficebearersofexistingpoliticalorganisationsatwhateverlevelwilldowelltoassisttheseconferencesnotasoffice-bearersbutasactivemembers.Membershipofapoliticalpartyshould, however, be nobar to officering in such aconference.Theseletterswillbesiftedbytheeditorsofthejournalandpassedontopeoplecompetentenoughtodealwiththemandfurthertheactivity.Wemustwarnagainstthekindofactionthatleadstonothing,theissuingofstatementstothepressorassemblingofmessagesoftheallegedlygreat.Whatweneedispersontopersontalk,housetohousecampaigning,localmeetings, discussions and debates, whichculminateinmassmeetingsorprocessions,Indolencehassoaffectedourpoliticsthattheculminationtakesplacewithout adequate preparation.We hope thatthesevariousconferenceswillsoonbesetinmotionand that theywill succeed either in freshening upexistingpoliticalpartiesorintimehelpbuildupanewandmightypoliticalorganisationthatwillchangethefaceofthecountry.

[October 1967]


ToProf.H.J.Laski

CentralJailAgra

(Nodate)

DearProf.Laski,

“As thenewspapersofmycountryhavenotyetlearnttocutthequestionhourinyourParliament,Ihavetotroubleyouoversomethingyouwouldknownothingabout.TheUnder-SecretaryforState,India,Mr.ArthurHenderson, has said that I havemadeunfoundedallegationsinrespectofmydetentionintheLahoreFort.“IdoubtiftheUnder-Secretaryknowswhatmyaccusationis.Theamazingthingisthereposewithwhich theBritishGovernment has askedmycountrytodismissmyaccusationwhen,inpractice.Ithasmadesomeveryawkward thoughsuccessfulattempts at suppressing its publication.Aside fromoddbits,mycountrydoesnot to thisdayknowofwhatIhaveaccusedtheGovernment.“WhilestillaprisonerintheLahoreFort,butafterIwasallowedtowritetotheHighCourt,ImadeaHabeasCorpusapplicationinDecember1944,andsupplementeditwithsomewhatfullerdetailsinJanuary1945.Whenthe hearingwas held, the Judge ordered it to besecret.TheGovernmenthadearlier takenanaddedprecaution and banned, under oneOrdinance oranother,allreferenceinthenewspaperstothisHabeasCorpuscase.Atthehearing,theJudgedeclaredhisintentiontogointothemeritsofmyapplicationandIwasexaminedonoath,andtheywereonthewaytoenquiringintomyaccusation,whenheacceptedtheIndianGovernment’spleathatIwasunderordersoftransfertoanotherprovinceandtheproceedingswerescotched. In the order dismissingmy applications,theJudgealsofeltthatthe‘solemotive’oftheIndiaGovernmentindetainingmewasnottotortureme.IregretIamunabletogiveyoutheexactwordingofthisstrangeorder.ImayaddthatIwasarrestedinBombayinMay1944,andkeptthereforamonth.IfitwastheGovernment’s intentiontosecuretheKing’speace,thatcouldhavebeenverywellachievedbycontinuingtoholdmeintheBombayjailortakingmetoanotherasnow,inmyhomeprovince,theUnitedProvinces.“Inrespectofprisonersill-treatedintheLahoreFort,thePunjabGovernmenthasoftenamusedthecountry

bypassingtheresponsibilityontotheGovernmentofIndia.TheBritishUnder-SecretaryhasnowalmostpasseditbacktothePunjabGovernment.Sofarasitconcernsme,theGovernmentofIndiaistheculprit,for I have been its prisoner in law as in fact andrecurrentordersformyill-treatmentemanatedfromit,andthePunjabGovernmentisanassociateincrime.“NoGovernmentinyourcountrycouldsointerferewithJusticeorshirkacriminalchargeagainstit.Onmytransfertothisjail,ImadeanapplicationtotheFederalCourt,buttheChiefJusticeofIndiafeltthathehadnojurisdictionofanysort.Afterseveralmonths’delay,IhavesucceededincontactingmylawyerMr.MadanlalPittie,butIdonotknowhowmuchlongeritwouldbebeforeheissuppliedwithcopiesofmyapplications to theLahoreHighCourt.ThesewereseizedfrommeonmytransferfromLahoretoAgra.”

Torture in Lahore Fort“I do not intend to detail to you my rather

long experience in the Lahore Fort. Should yourParliamentary Party or any of its members begenuinelyinterested,theycouldeasilyobtainthetwoapplicationstotheLahoreHighCourtandthethirdtotheFederalCourtascourtdocuments.ImustaddthattheseapplicationsareadefiniteunderstatementofwhatIhadtogothrough.Inthefirstplace,Ihaveavoidedmentionof vulgarities and, in the second,theshortscopeofacourtapplicationandinadequatetalentswouldhavemademesounddramatic,ifIhadtried tocommunicate thedullbutuglycrueltyas Ifeltit.Ihadhopedthatthehearinginthecourtwouldbringitoutmorefully.IwouldhereindicatethatIwasill-treatedinonewayoranotherforoverfourmonths,thatIwaskeptawakedayafterday,nightafternight,thelongestsinglestretchrunningintotendays;andthat,whenIresistedthepoliceintheireffortstomakemestand,theywheeledmeroundonmymanacledhandsonthemattedfloor.It tookmesometimetolearnasaphysicalfeat,andalessonIshouldlikenevertoforget,thatnopainisactuallyunbearable;ithaseitherbeenunbearableinthepast,butthenthemanisinsensibleordead,oritappearstobeunbearableasanimaginedstateofthenextmoment.ItistruethatIwasnotbeatennorwereneedlessdrivenundertoe-nails.Idonotwishtomakecomparisons.AEuropean,morethananother,withhisbettersensibilitytothehumanbodyandifheisnotdulledwithhorrors,mayrealise


whatIunderwent.But,beatingandbastinadoingtodeathornearaboutitandforcingthehumanmouthtoconsiderableatrocities—theseandworsehavealsotakenplace.Iwillgiveyouoneortwoinstances,asreadilycometomymind.OnemanswallowedpoisoninapoliceoutpostoftheBombayProvince,anotherthrewhimselfdownawellinaUnitedProvincesjail;andofthosewhodiedthroughbeatingorilltreatmentaftertheirarrest,thereisnocheckingupexceptthatinoneOrissajailoutofover300inthecountry,thenumberofdeathsamongpoliticalprisoners rose toaround 29 or 39—I cannot exactly recollect. “Mycountry has gone through a great deal in the pastthreeandahalfyears.Menhavebeenshotdeadbythethousand,someoutofmovingvehiclesasatestofmarksmanship or to instil terror,women havebeenstrungupontreesandlaceratedorrapedonthepublicroad,andhousesrazedintheLidiceorBecassifashion,thoughnotasintensiveinasingleareabutinthetotalvasterbythescore.Thisisnotsurprising.Onceitisunderstoodthatthecountrywasreconqueredinterrorandvengefulness,thefactthatnothingmoremassivethantheAugustRebellionisknowntomodernhistoryexplainsitself.Threetofourmilliondiedinthecreatedfamine.Alreadytherewasbeatingofananotherkindfifteenyearsago.Myfather,whodiedinabustwoweeksback,wasbeatenunconsciousinthewhollypeacefulraidoftheDharsanaSaltDepot.Asidefrommyregretthatwehadnotenoughtimetogether,itisaswellthatheisfreedfromsuccessiveimprisonments andworse in his own country, andfromtheoppressivesenseofanation’ssufferingthatgoeswiththese.”

Orderly Rule Gone“Ihavegivenyou thenationalpicture tofit into

itmyownexperienceasverysmallbit.TheBritishLabourMovement,asanyothersocialistmovement,hasbeenerring,becauseitviewsforeignruleontheground of democracy or fascismor other politicalformsathome.Ifpre-conceivednotionsarecastaway,itisjustpossiblethattheBritishsystemofrulingmycountrymaybefoundtobeslightlyworsethananyother,oritmaybeslightlybetter.Thatwoulddependonone’sunderstandingoffacts.NoonewoulddenythatBritishruleinHindustanhas,asayoungbrute,beenheinously atrocious. It is again becoming so,now that it is declining into an aging ogre.The

middleperiodofsecuredandcomparativelyorderlyruleisgonebeyondrecall.Idonotknowifitisatallpossibletopreventoreventomitigatetheuglydoingsofthisogre.ButthisIknowthattheBritishLabourMovementwillnotevenhavemadeanattempt,ifittheorisesforeignruleonanyotherviewthanthatofbloodyyouthandcruellerdecline,with themiddleperiod, at any rate inmy country, dead and gone.“Infaceofallthis,theUnder-Secretaryhashadthebrasstocallmealiar.AllGovernments,asknowntoeverybody,tellliesontheplaneofhighpolicy,butwhenaGovernmentdoessoatthelevelofpersonsandminorthings,itmustbewhollymucked.Isn’tthereonemanintheParliamentaryLabourPartywhocanbringthisout?ShoulditbesaidthatthedoersoftheseatrocitiesareinlargenumbersmyowncountrymeninBritishemploy?Idonotdenythatthereisagreatdealofrottennessinmycountryandthatiswhatmakesitsogalling,buttheEnglishmanthinkshewouldnotbehereunlesshemadeuseofit.”

Miss Usha Mehta’s Case“Notwantingtoreleaseme,theUnder-Secretary

has also said that theGovernment is consideringthe question ofmy prosecution. I am now underdetentionforoverayearandahalf,apartfrommyimprisonmentoftwoyearsearlyinthewar,andiftheGovernmenthasnotyetcompletedconsideringthisquestion,itmayaswellgoondoingsoindefinitely.ThereisayoungwomaninaBombayjail,MissUshaMehta,perhapstheonlywomanpoliticalinthejailsofthatprovince,whoisdoingatermoffouryearsfor running a freedom radio. I amnot quarrellingwithhersentence,although,hadthisyoungwomanofrareattainmentandrarecouragebeenSpanishorRussian, your countrymenwould have glamorisedherintoaheroine.Shewasheldunderdetentionforayearandforseveralmonthsmoreasanunder-trial,sothat,ifthisjudiciallapsehadnottakenplace,shemighthavewellcompletedhertermandbeoutnow.Imightaddthathertrialandthatofhercolleagueswasbannedfromthenewspapers.“Oftheeighttotenthousandpoliticalprisoners,alargenumberofwhomareclassifiedasordinarycriminals,almosttheentirelotareheldinprison,asidefromtheinherentinequityof their sentence or detention owing to one lapseoranotherevenundertheexistinglaw.Afewdaysback, tenpersons serving life termswere released,


becausetheAllahabadHighCourtfoundtheyhadbeenconvictedontheevidenceofan‘unmitigatedliar’.

Jayaprakash Narayan“Mr.JayaprakashNarayan,GeneralSecretaryofthe

SocialistParty,isnowunderdetentionforovertwoyears,apartfromhisearlierconvictionanddetentionofnearlythreeyears,andtheIndiaGovernment,onitsowndeclaration,hasbeenconsideringthequestionofhisprosecutioneversincehisarrest.Itwillpresumablygoonconsideringthequestion,meanwhileholdinghiminprison.IdonotknowwhatkindofananswerMr.LeopoldAmerywould have returned, had hebeenaskedaboutmydetentionandpresumingthathehadstillwantedtoholdmeinprison.Iliketothinkthathewouldhavetakenhisstandontheusurper’sunhedgedpowerandwouldhavejustsaidthatIwasdetainedunder the lawsof the land,whatever theymightbe.ThatwouldhavebeenbetterthanaLabourUnder-Secretary’s screening of a bad deed. “TheGovernmentisafraidofplacingusontrialanditwillcontinuetobesoafrighted.Ourtrialmayendupinitsowntrial.ExceptfortheIndo-Russians,noonecanpossiblythinkthatwehaveworkedforAxisvictoryinintentionorevenintheunintendedresultsofourdeeds.Infact,Mr.JayaPrakashNarayanhadwantedthatanappealbesentfromtheFreedomPressofthiscountrytotheBritishSocialistMovement,butIfeltthattherewasnotatthattimeaworthyenoughheadoftheMovementnoranyactivelyfavourableelementtowhomsuchanappealcouldbesent.”

A Vague Charge“Thenthechargeislevelledagainstusthatwehave

triedtoachieveouraimthroughviolence.Itisavaguechargeandassuchhasnovalidityinlawnoraplaceinanycoherentpoliticaldiscussion.ThedrawingofthelinebetweenviolenceandnonviolenceasamethodofpoliticalendeavourisanessentiallyIndianbeginningandiswhollydistinctfromtheacceptedoppositionbetween constitutional andunconstitutionalmeans.Itmust, therefore,awaitrecognition,until, ifatall,theIndianNationalCongressisabletocreateaStatewith its politics. Such an eventwill also radicallyaltertheconceptofGovernmentanditsobligations.Meanwhile,itdoesnotlieinthemouthoftheBritishGovernment or of any other, to throw about thischarge,fortherighttoviolenceis,inthedominated

world, linkedupwith someof thefinest efforts ofman.IfIweretofollowtheBritishPrimeMinister,Mr.ClementAttlee,ortheArchbishopofCanterbury,Iwouldhavetocall it thesacredright toviolence.Fortherest,theIndianPenalCodeisdrasticenough,moredrasticthananynowprevalent.Thereisghastlyprovisioninitagainstthepoliticalkindofkilling,ortheveryvaguestassociationwithit,orsedition,orthemereowningofarms.Ihavenotbeenputupfortrialonanyofthesecounts,northemanyhundreds,whohavebeendetainedalmostthroughoutthewarandarestillinprisonseveralmonthsafterthelastfascistwasletoutinyourowncountry.InlendingthesmallestcountenancetoGovernment’spleathateverybodystillinprisonisaSocialistandadvocateofviolence,theBritishSocialist isdeliberatelyenablingtheBritishFascist in this country towork out his lawless ireagainsttheIndianSocialist.“IfMr.StephenDavies,amember of your Parliamentary Party, thought itworthwhiletoquestiontheUnder-Secretaryaboutmeheshouldalsohaveacquirednecessaryinformationto bringout through supplementaryhow inept andunworthytheanswerwas.Questionsaskedinahurryand in pursuit of an unpleasing duty or to createillusionareworse thannoquestions at all.For thepresent,atanyrate,Ihavelittledesireforreleaseandthereisnourgencyofanysortwhatever.TheBritishGovernmentiswelcometoholdmeinprisonaslongas it lasts in thiscountry.But the fact remains thattherewasnotonemaninyourParliamentaryPartywhocould tell theSecretarywithfacts thathewaslying,thathehasnotsofar,norshall,putmeupfortrial,thathedidhishabitualscreeningtomakemydetentionmorepalatabletothestupid.“Allwritingfrom a slave country to the ruler’s land is largelyineffectual,andwearies,butIhopeyouhavenotaskedyourselfwhyIhavenotaddressedthislettertoyourParliamentaryParty.”

Pleaseacceptmywarmgreetings.

Yourssincerely,

RammanoharLohia.

(FromThePriceofLiberty,EditedbyYusufMeharally)


ToAcharyaJ.B.Kripalani

P/410,LakeTempleRoad,RashBehariAvenueP.O.,

Calcutta29.

10-7-1947.

DearRashtrapati,

Permitmetowritetoyouonthesubjectofsuchsections of our population as are claiming to beminorities and have even introduced a separatistelementintheirclaims.InparticularIwishtowriteaboutChristians, speciallyCatholics,Nepalis andtheAdibasis.Thesetogetherformnearly10percentofourpopulation.Theyhaveinvariousdegreesall-India organizations and all-India policies.Unlesswetoopreparetotreatthisproblemontheall-Indialevel,wewillprobablybefacedsoonenoughwitha new andmajor obstacle to the building up ofour nation. Iwillfirst present to younature of theproblem. It is possible that the cases that I havecomeup againstmay have differently interpreted.But thatwouldnot takeaway from theurgencyortheseriouscharacteroftheproblem.SuchChristiansas operate on the all-India level either through theCongress or their ownorganisations are generallyprotestants and although there ismuch to be donewith regard to themass of them, they are on thewholenotverymuchsubject to foreign influences.ButtheCatholicsareadifferentstory.TheCatholicChurch isunder thecontrolofRome.Through thevariouschurchorganisations, schoolsandcolleges,foreign influenceswork subtlybut very effectivelyandsometimesopenly.Inaddition,thePortugueseinIndiathroughGoaexerciseaneffectivecontrolovertheCatholics.NeverthelessaconsiderablenumberofnationalistCatholicshavebeenworkingintheirownlimitedspheresandinrecentmonthstherehasbeenanincreaseintheirnumberandalsotheirzeal.ButintheabsenceofanysystematicCongresspoliciesandprogramme,encouragementisoftengivenknowinglyorunknowinglybyCongressmen to theunnationalandreactionarysectionsamongtheCatholics.IwouldherementionthecaseofDr.AlbanD’Souza,whomtheBombayCongress has elevated to beCatholicrepresentativefortheConstituentAssembly,Bombay

Corporationandsuchlike.Dr.D’SouzaisacompletereactionaryonsuchissuesasthoseofPortugueseIndiaoroftheneedtobringCatholicsintothemainstreamofournationallife.TheacceptancebytheCongressofsuchamanasitsspokesmaninevitablyleadstoagreatdealofconfusionandweakening.ItmaybethatinternalstresseswithintheCongressareareasonforsuchselections.PerhapsanyotherCatholicacceptabletothemassesmaybemoreindependentmindedandthose in control of theBombayCongressmaynotfeelquitesafewithhim.Butthensuchconsiderationsifatalltheyarepresentofanyotheraredangerous.TheCongressshouldbepreparedtoloseaseatratherthan to encourage reaction.And in any case thereisnoquestionoflosingaseat,IknowtheBombayCatholicsaswellasanyothernon-CatholicandIamperfectlybehindhimwouldbeabletobeateverybodyelse,providedhedidnothavetoopposetheCongress.

TheNepalishavelongbeenaconsiderableelementintheIndianarmyandnodoubttheyareamongthebravestintheworld.Andyettheyhaveuntilrecentlyhardly been touchedby anykindof national prideor awareness.TheAll-IndiaGurkhaLeaguewhichwasfoundedduring thewarhadasoneof itsaimsrecruitmenttothearmy.Thisorganisation,inadditiontothecircumstancesattendingitsbirth,haschosentoplayonthecommunalsentiment.ItistryingtogivetheNepalisofDarjeelingandelsewhereaseparatistattitude.Itsleader,DumberSinghGurung,iswidelyknowntohaveincitedhills-menagainstplainsmen.AndyettheBengalCongresshasonceagainchosenhimas itsnomineeon theConstituentAssembly. ImayhereaddthattheDarjeelingCongressCommitteehadrecommendedtwonamesofsuchNepalisashavetheCongresstraditionbehindthem.WhytheBengalCongress should still have selectedDumberSinghGurungisunexplainableexceptasameasureofsomekindofpowerpolitics.IamnotsuggestingthattheGurkhaLeague should at once be dropped by theCongress.AllthatIamsuggestingisthataconsistentpolicybeworkedoutwithregardto theseall-IndiaNepaliorganisations.TheAdibasisareperhapsnotyetanall-Indiaproblem.AndyettherearecertaincommonfeaturesinthelifeofAdibasisintheCentralProvinceorBiharorevenAssamwhichmaywellbe seizeduponbyanenterprisingpersonororganisationsoastoturnthemintoamajorproblem.Alreadytheyhave


becomeaprobleminBihar.AndintheNagaterritoryalsotheseparatistsentimenthasbeenallowedtogrow.TheprovincialCongressCommittees are hardly inaposition tocopewith thisproblem inany justoreffectiveway.Energeticeffortmustbemadetosatisfytheeconomic,socialandculturalaspirationsoftheseAdibasis.Otherwisetheyarethreateningtobecomeapoliticalproblem.InallthesecasestheCommunistshavethrownintheirlotwiththecommunalistsandtheforeignagentswhetherinthemissionsortheBritishpoliticalservice.TheAll-IndiaCongressCommitteemustsetupaspecialdepartmenttodealwiththeseenormoussectionsofourpopulation.Thisdepartmentwouldcollectallrelevantmaterialsandbethesourcefornationalisingpublicity.Itwillalsocommandallthe information necessary for formulating all-Indiapoliciesandbeamediumforputtingthemthrough.TheCongressGovernmentsoreventheGovernmentof Indiawill hardly be competent to do all these.Theymay tackle the question in its economic orsocialaspects.ButtheCongressalonecandealwithit initspoliticalandculturalaspects.Andeventheeconomicandsocialmeasurestobesystematicandeffectivewill have at least in somemeasure to beproposed by such anA.I.C.C. department. ShouldyoudecidetosetupsuchadepartmentIwillbeabletosuggestyousomeCatholicandNepaliandAdibasinames,ofcourseonlyintheeventthatyouhavenosuch names in view.The head of this departmentmustofcoursebeamemberoftheCongressWorkingCommittee.Otherwisehewillneitherhavethestatusnor the qualifications for formulating any all-Indiapolicies,much lessofputting themthrough. In thefirstformulationsoftheseall-Indiapolicies,itwould

beadvisabletoinvitearepresentativemeetingofthegroupforwhichthepolicyistobeformulated.Thusforinstance,theheadofthisdepartmentmayinviterepresentativesoftheNepaliNationalCongress,theAllIndiaGurkhaLeague,theGurkhaDhukaNivaranSamitiandsomeotheroutstandingNepalisinIndia.Itwouldbeknownatthisfirstmeetingastowhichelements in the futurewill bewilling to pursue anationalpolicyandalsowhatmeasureofagreementis possible. Similarmeetingsmaybe arranged fortheothergroups.Itmayalsobenecessarytosetupatrainingschoolforthepurposeoftrainingpoliticalandsocialworkersforthesevariousgroups.Someoftheseworkersmayberecruitedfromthegroupamongwhich theywill be expected toworkwhile someothersnotbelongingtothatgroupmayselectitforpurelymissionaryreasons.Itisremarkablehowfewnon-AdibasisknowanyoftheAdibasis’languages.IwouldnotbesurprisediftherearemoreEuropeanswhoknowtheNagalanguageincomparisontoothernon-Naga Indians.Anewbeginningmustbemadeandsoon.Ineedhardlyaddthatworkamongthesevarioussectionswouldbespoiledifitisundertakenonlyasone-waytraffic.Itisatwo-waysactivityinwhichtheAdibasisandothersmayhavealottogivetothegeneralbodyofIndianthoughtandculture.

Iprayyoutotreatthismatterasseriousandurgent.

Yoursincerely,

Sd/-RammanoharLohia

AcharyaJ.B.Kripalani,President,IndianNationalCongress,6,JantarMantarRoad,NewDelhi

ToJayaprakashNarayan

MyDearJayaprakash,

IhavereadthePrimeMinister’slettertwicewhichyou showed tome.Nothing that Iwrite is out offleetingirritation.Idonotrememberhavingeversaidanything“highlyoffensiveandpersonal”.ButIamnotingwhatflunkeysmightwellconsiderinterestingenough for the fear of a bigman. (1) To havemountedthefuneralcarriageofMahatmaGandhiwasirreverencerarelysufferedbyanation.Ifthisactwastheresultofpassinginsanity,thedoersshouldhaveabsolvedthemselvesthroughrepentanceandapology.

Ihavemadeuseofthisargumentveryexceptionallyinthreeorfourmeetings.(2)Thesloganandmantramtoworkhardinordertoproducewealthisfalseandemptyunlesssupportedbyanabundantsupplyoftoolsandmachines.IhaveinthisconnectionadvisedthePrimeMinistertopullarikshaforaweekinordertodiscoverhowhard thepeoplearealreadyworking.(3)ThePrimeMinisterandhisGovernmentbeartheguiltoffamineandblameshouldnotbetransferredtorain,cloudsandthelike.ByrefusingtoprohibitallejectmentsoffarmersafterassumptionofpowerthePrimeMinisterhascausedadeficitofatleasttwomillion tonsof foodcropsannually,by refusing toformafoodarmyforcultivatingwastelandsanother


speech and overseas speech as thePrimeMinisterseemsto.IdonotexpectthePrimeMinisterandhisstupid embassies abroad to showme any courtesy,howevermuchthatmayhurtme,butIwouldnotatthesametimehavethemexpectmetogocallingonthem.Eitherweshouldleaveeachotheraloneortheyshouldobserveprotocol.Furthermore,whenNormanCousinsactslikeaMcArthyandferretedsomearticleIwroteintheHarijanin1942inordertoprovethatIwaspro-Japanese,Iwonderedwherehecouldhavegottheinformationfrom.TheAmbassadorwasalsokindenoughtorefertomyvisittotheU.S.twoweeksinadvanceand,beforeameetingofIndianstudentsinChicago,asthatmanonhisredwagonwhowillsay and do things hurtful to India’s cause. I caneasilyunderstandthestrangleholdwhichthePrimeMinisterhasonthecountry’sorganisedopinion,onnewspapers, commerce chambers, political partiesandthelike.Aprogrammeofpersonalvilificationiseasilyletlooseagainstapersonandideasarenolongerdebated.Togobeyondcapitalismandcommunism,beyond theCongress and theCommunist Parties,beyondAmericaandRussia,istowalkonarazor’sedgeandtosuffervilificationatthehandsbothofthePrimeMinister’s entourage and theCommunists. Ishouldliketogetridofit.

Yoursaffectionately,

Sd/-

Rammanohar

ToDr.BRAmbedkarHyderabad

10thDecember1955DearDr.Ambedkar,

The enclosed folders are self explanatory.“Mankind”would try earnestly to reveal the casteproblem in its entirety. Itwould therefore, be veryhappy to have an article from you. It expects itsarticles to rangebetween2, 500 and4,000words.You are of course free to select your own subject.Shouldyouselectoneortheotheraspectofthecastesystemprevalent inourcountry, IwouldwantyoutowritesomethingwhichmakesthepeopleofIndiasitup,notaloneinangerbutalsoinwonderment.I

twomilliontons,andbyrefusingtoredividelandandthustoencouragevoluntarylabouronminorirrigationanother fourmillion tons.(4)ThePrimeMinister’sReliefFundrunningintomillionsshouldbesubjecttoGovernmentorParliamentaryauditandshouldnotbeamatterofpersonaldiscretionasatpresent.Thesuspicion should not be permitted that this sum isbeingusedforbolsteringupthepersonalprestigeofthePrimeMinister.Ihaverarelyusedthisargumentin the hope that somethingwould happen.AmongthePrimeMinister’scriticsIbelieveIamtheleastpersonal,butofcoursethebluntestandeverythingisreasonedout.IhaveneverreferredtoanyactwhichthePrimeMinisterdoesnotdopubliclyandwhenoncearelationdidsoinprivateconversation,Iaskedhimtoshutupandthatwastheendofit.IdonotthinkthatthatcouldbesaidofthePrimeMinisteroratleastofhisentourage.Theyspecialiseincheapsuggestionsandjokes.Astoimpersonalaffairsofpublicpolicy,thePrimeMinisterisairyandvagueandsitsonthehighperchofunreasonedabuse.Hehasoftenresortedtothevulgarexpedientofdenouncingmeandpraisingyouandothers.ThePrimeMinisterseemstothinkthatIhavenootherbusinessthantotalkabouthimandhisGovernmentwhenItraveloverseas.ThatiswhollyuntrueandIdonotgivethemthatimportance.Therecordsofmyspeechesandevenprivateconversationsareavailable.IdonotthinkIhavegivenmorethan5%ofmytalkingtime,bothpublicandprivate,totheIndiaGovernmentandthePrimeMinister,andinmostcaseswhenIwaspressedtodoso.TwoyearsagoIhadadoptedadifferentpolicybutIthinkthatapersonwhobelieves insocialismandaworldgovernmentcannot obviously draw such a line between home

1March1952Calcutta

donotknowwhetherthespeechesImadeaboutyouduringtheparliamentarycampaigninMadhyaPradeshwerecommunicatedtoyoubyyourLieutenantwhoalsotravelledwithme.EvennowIverymuchwishthatsympathyshouldbejoinedtoangerandthatyoubecomealeadernotaloneofthescheduledcastes,butalsotheIndianpeople.

TheZonalStudyCampwouldbeverygladtohaveyouinitsmidst.Theaccompanyinglistofsubjectsismeanttohelp.Ifyoucouldgiveusaresumeofyourlectureinadvanceitwouldbegoodforthepurposesof publication afterwards.Weexpect that a lecturelastinganhourwouldbefollowedupbyadiscussionofsimilarduration.


conferenceinordertobringoutoneoranotherpoint.I trust that the conferencewill extend you specialpermissiontodoso.

Withwarmgreetings.

Yourssincerely,

RammanoharLohia

ToRavelaSomayya

DearRavela,

I can understand your irritationwithme.But IhavenowreadthebookHumanistPoliticsbyM.N.Roywhichyousentme.Imustdisappointyouagain.WhileIagreewithsomeofthemotivationsofM.N.Roy,Iamunabletounderstandhismodesofaction.Infact,Idonotknowwhetherthereareanymodesofaction;theyarenotthereatleastinthebookyouhavesentme.ThesoleconcretemodethatM.N.Royhassuggestedistohavesomepeoplethroughoutthecountrywhowould“beginthetaskofawakeningtheurgeforfreedomintheindividuals”andwhowouldtellpeoplenottobecarriedawaybyelectionspeechesbut use their brains andwhowould teach people“toexamine thepromises thataremade to theminacriticalspirit”.I fail toseehowthisworkcanbedonebyagroupofpeoplewhostayoutsideof,andabove,politicalparties.Evenifsuchagroupshouldcomeintoexistence,whichisitselfalmostimpossible,itwill soon turn intoapoliticalpartywith itsownpromisesorapackofhighbrowandsuperiorpeoplewhosecapacityforactioniscompletelyblocked.Insucha situation, theywouldeitherbecomecynicalorseekforanadjustmentandaccommodationwithall kinds of important people.The critical spirit isabsolutelynecessary.Myownappealtotheelectorateisbasedpreciselyonthiscriticalspirit.ThatiswhypresumablyIhavesofarbeenfailing.Butthereisafirmbeliefthatsustainsme.Somedaytheelectoratewill examine programmes.But that itwill do notbecauseofthedoingsofnon-partypeoplebutbecauseofanhonestpoliticalpartythatassiststhemtothiscriticalspiritasalsototheenthusiasmneededforallpoliticalaction.Enthusiasmandcriticalitymustgotogetheriftheyaretobeeffectiveanduseful.InM.N.Roy’swaythereisnopossibilityofenthusiasmandcriticalitybyitselfmustnecessarilybecomecynicism

orkowtowing.ThewayoftheSocialistPartyawakenshopethatenthusiasmandcriticalitymayemergeincombination.EveniftheSocialistPartyshouldfail,Iamcertainthatonlyanotherpartyofsimilaraimsbutwith better people or different circumstanceswould succeed.Mr.M.N.Roy has talked of the“original democratic doctrine of the freedom andsovereigntyoftheindividual”.Hebelievesthatthisoriginaldoctrinehasbeenway-laidbyCommunismorFascismandalsothatatthetimeofitsfirstbirthitcouldnotberealisedduetolackofknowledge.Now,with better knowledge and information available,rebirthofthisdoctrineisnecessaryandthisiswhatRoy calls “NewHumanism”.Whilemuch of thishistoricalpresentationisopentodoubt,theneedforthefreedomoftheindividualisincontestable.SuchfreedomrequiresamorethoroughexaminationthanEuropeanscholarshiphassofarbeencapableof.Thefreedomoftheindividualwouldseemtodependasmuchonexternalasoninternalconditionsofequality,alsothementalandthematerial.ThatiswhyIhavetriedtoexaminethefourconditionsofequality:(1)internalmaterial, (2)externalmaterial, (3)externalmental,and(4)internalmentalconditionsofequality.Kinship, which is theword for externalmentalrelationships,andtranquillity,whichisthewordforinternalmentalconditions,wouldbebetterwordstouse.Unfortunately, theworldisnotyetreadyforascholarshipthatwouldgotothewholetruthandnotonlythatpartofitwhichhasbeenseenbytheancients,particularlybyancientIndiansorthatotherpartwhichhasbeenseenbyEuropeans.

GivemywarmregardstoMrs.EllenRoyifyouarestillcorrespondingwithher.

YoursSincerely

RammanoharLohia[25thJune1958]

Idonotknowwhetherthefoundationconferenceof the Socialist Partywould have any interest foryou.Although you are not amember of the partytheconferencewouldwanttohaveyouasaspecialinvitee.The conferencewill take up, amongothersubjects, problems relating to agricultural labour,artisans,womenandparliamentarywork,onanyoneofwhichyouhave something significant to say. Ifyoufeellikeparticipatingintheproceedingsofthe


Following are excerpts from the statement made by Dr. Rammanohar Lohia on the occasion of his trial under the Defence of India Rules:

Iwas prosecuted a year ago under the law ofseditioninthecourtofthechiefpresidencymagistrateofCalcutta.Theoccasionwasananti-warspeech.IhavenowbeenbroughtupbeforeaSultanpurcourtandmyoffenceisagainananti-warspeech.OnneitherofthesetwooccasionshaveIcaredforalegaldefencewhichhasnecessarilytoworkwithintheframeworkofthelawasexists.Idonotacceptthelawsthatgovernourpoliticallife.Idonotwishtodisowntheviewsandeventheexpressionsassetoutinthereportedspeech.Thereissomeconfusionduetowholesaleomissionsparticularlyintotwoplaces,butunlessonewantstotorturethereport,onegetsafairideaofthegeneraltrendofmyspeech.Ihaveattheoutsetemphasisedtheinsecurityofthetimesinwhichwelive.Nearlyten countrieswith governments of their own andsomewithformidablearmieshaveinsideofthefirsttenmonths come under the conqueror’s jackboot.Economicandpoliticalsystemsarecollapsingundertheweight ofwar.Nothing is safe. It is little useclingingtooldhopesandsufferingfromoldfears.Thehopeofalifestableinwell-wornrutsisoldalikeasthefearofthemightoftheGovernmentsthatoppressusisold.Ihaveaskedmycountrymentogiveupthesehopesandfears.Ihavethentriedtodiscussthewarasitaffects—mypeople.Wehavebeenmadeparticipantsinthiswarunderforeignorders.Wehavenofreedomofdecisions.Noproudpeopleevertoleratesoutsidedecision in thehighmattersofwarandpeace.TheCongress asks theBritishGovernment to state itswar-aims.TheViceroyofIndiareplied thatBritainsoughtnoadvantagesfromthewar.ThisreplydodgedthequestionoftheCongress.ItwasimpossiblefortheCongresstocontinueinministerialofficersinhisstateofenforcedwar.TherearoseasupremetestfortheIndianconstitution.Wasthisconstitutioncapableofexpressingthewillofthepeople?Itwasclearlynot.Theelementoffreedomtowhateverlittleextentitwaspresentintheconstitutionbrokedown.Intwo-thirdsofBritishadministeredIndia, thewillofautocraticgovernorsprevailsandpeople’srepresentativeshave

Non-Violence—The Only Salvationbeenthrownout.Inallouractivitieswehavetobenon-violent.Nonviolenceisdictatednotonlybythecircumstances inourcountrybutbyconsiderationsthat operate throughout theworld. It is not onlya practical necessity. It is an ethical desirability.Whateverconfusiontheremightbeonthispointduetofaultyreportingissetasidebythereporterhimself.I amreported tohavesaidwhenwehave recoursetoweapons,webecomeweakofhearts.Thosewhorely onweapons do not rely on their hearts.Theyturnintoslavesoftheirownweapons.Theyhavenostrengthleftinthemselves.Iamanopponentoftheold cult of the lathi and itsmodern equivalent thecultoftheaeroplane.Thereisaninnercontradictionbetweenthesecultsandtheenduringofhumanlife,acontradictionwhichisdailybecomingmorefierce.Thenexttwentyyearswillshowwhichwinsandthedualismcannotlastlonger.Shouldhumanlifeendure,there can be only one formof organisation.Adultdemocracymustobtainthroughouttheworldandtherewillbenoplaceinitforimperialismnorforcapitalism.IhavegivenanindicationinmyspeechofthisformofGovernmentasitwillaffecttheIndianpeople.ItwaswithaviewtobringintoforegroundthisprincipleofadultdemocracythatIsuggestedimmediatepeaceplantoMahatmaGandhi.Iclaimnooriginalityforthisplanwhoseitemsare:Allpeopleswillbefree.ThosenewlyacquiringfreedomwilldeterminetheirconstitutionthroughaConstituentAssembly.Allracesareequalandtherewillbenoracialprivilegesinanypartof theworld.Therewillbenopoliticalbar toanyonetosittingwhereverhelikes.AllcreditsandinvestmentsownedbytheGovernmentandnationalsofonecountryinanotherwillbescrappedorsubmittedforimpartialreviewtointernationaltribunals.Theywillthenbeownednotbyindividualsbutbythestates.Whenthesethreeprincipleswillhavebeenacceptedbythepeoplesoftheworldafourthwillautomaticallycomeintooperation.Therewillbetotaldisarmament.IamhappyintheknowledgethatMahatmaGandhihasendorsedthispeaceplan.Letmeinconclusionstate that I have no ill-will against any people. IhavelivedamongtheGermanpeopleandlikedtheirthoroughnessofenquiry, thescientificbentof theirmindandtheirefficiencyinaction.Iamunhappythat


theyhavetodaytocarryontheirshouldersasystemwhichexultsinwarandconquest.IhavenointimateknowledgeoftheBritishpeople.Idaresaythattheyhavetheirvirtues.Imaybepermittedtoquotefrommyspeech.“IdonotwantthedestructionofBritain.

TheBritishhavedoneeviltousbutIdonotwanttodoeviltothem.”Again,IamunhappythattheBritishpeoplehavetocarryontheirshoulderstodayasystemwhichhasenslavedthepeoplesoftheworld.

[National Herald, 17th July 1940]

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA: Mr. Speaker,The subject of today’s debate is the InternationalCommissionofHistorianssetupbyUNESCOforthepurposeofwritingahistoryofmankindandthebookpublishedbythecommission.Itisthefirstvolumeoftheprojectedhistoryofmankindanddealswithpre-historyandbeginningsofcivilization.AlthoughitispublishedbytheCommissiontheresponsibilityforwhatiswrittentherefallsontheUNO,theUNESCOandtheGovernmentofIndia.Dr.RadhakrishnanisacorrespondingmemberoftheCommission.

ThisisperhapsthefirstoccasionfortheLokSabhatodebateonascholarlytreatise.ThisiswhyIwouldlikethisGovernmenttobepreparedforadiscussiononbasicissuesandnotmerelytogiverepliesonsomeminorpointsastheyusuallydo.

If the readingorwritingofhistorygoeswrong,graveconsequencesmightfollow.Forhistoryis,afterall,aprocessofunderstandingthepast,whateveritiscorrectormistakefullorpartial,determinesourpresentandthefuture.Ifourunderstandingiswrong,ourmakingof thepresentand thefuturealsogoeswrong.Toprovideanillustration,inmedievalIndiatemples had been ravished and sacked.But if thehistorianonlysaysthatMuslimshadsackedHindushrines,itistruebutpartially.Ithighlightsonlyoneaspect of history and produces anger. In order tohaveanintegratedapproachwemustalsosayhowincapableourforefatherswere,whocouldnotresisttheaggressors,andsuchreadingsofhistorywouldgive rise to agony instead of anger.Our attitudeswouldbebroadenedtowardsthepresentdayMuslimswho,afterall,areex-Hindusandhadnohandintheactsofvandalism.Itwouldalsogenerateawillnottoallowsuchthingstohappeninthefuture.

History, Historians and HistoriographyLok Sabha Proceedings, April 26, 1966

The errors that I am going to point out in thisbookmaynotattheoutsetseemveryimportant,butmisunderstandingofIndianhistorybywriterswithinandoutsidethecountryissogreatthatIshalltrytoexplain its significance by a number of examples.Firstly,itissupposedthatwhateveroccursinIndiamustbeimitationofsomeothercountryorcivilization.ItiseitherfromChina,orMisrorUrorChaldeaorsomeother place. It has been said in this bookbyLeonardWooleythatwhenonelookedat thenorthgatewayofthegreatStupaatSanchionecouldnothelpfeelingthatitwasinspiredbythewoodenarchitectureof China.And the strange part of it is that thisstatementwaschallengednotbyanyIndianmemberonthecommissionnorbyDr.RadhakrishnanbutbyaRussianhistorian,Prof.Ilyin.AndthenMr.Wooleywritesinasmallnote‘Itisanimpression,and,thereisnoproof;buttheimpressionisworthrecording’.Thisishowhistoryisbeingwritten.Mr.WooleywritesthattheStupaatSanchihadinspirationfromChina.HeischallengedbyaSoviethistorian.ThenthelearnedProfessorWooleywritesbecausethatimpressionwasonhismindthatwastoberecordedalthoughtherewasnoproofforit...(Interruptions)...HistoriansbothIndianandforeignaresuchrottenheadedpeople.ItisingrainedintothemindsofourchildrenthatIndiahadnothingofitsown,everythingwaseitherimitatedorinfluencedbyoutsidefactors.Thesehistorianscangotoabsurdlengths.Inthebookthereismentionaboutanotherbookcalled‘FivethousandyearsofPakistan’.

AN HON’BLE MEMBER : Mad!ANOTHER HON’BLE MEMBER: No, it is

deliberatemischief.

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA: Iwon’t use thesephrases.Butitistheintentionofwesternwritersto


givePakistantheimpressionofbeingveryancientandfamiliar.ByassociatingPakistanwithMohenjodaroandHarappawhichwas only a part of the oldercivilizationofabiggerunit,theywanttostrengthentherootsofIndia’spartition.Itishistory,art,orsomeother thing? It isas ifonecouldwriteahistoryofEnglandoflast20lakhyearsorahistoryofIndiaforthelast3,000,000,000years.ForthatissupposedtobetheageoftheearthofwhichIndiaisapart.

ThereisanothermatterinthisbookofhistoryaboutwhichperhapsthecommunalistsofIndiadonotknow.IdonotwanttogointothedetailsoftheagreementastohowoldisRigveda.ThattherewasnopoetryworthmentioninginIndiaabout3000yearsago.Iamnotpreparedtoadmit.

Icanadmitsofarasmusicisconcerned.ThereismentionaboutthepoetryofancientEgyptandancientChinabutitcategoricallysaysthatitwasnotpossibletowrite about poetry in ancient India because nosourceswereavailable.AndaboutRigvedathebooksaysthatAryanscametoIndiaonlyin1500B.C.

This division of India intoAryan, non-Aryan,Dravidianetc. isamyth.ButIshallnotblameMr.Chagla for this. It hasbecomea trendof thinking.ThebookpurportstosaythatAryanscametoIndiaabout3500yearsagoandtookabout500-700yearstoachievethatsophisticationoflanguagewhichcouldproduce theRigvedawritten about 2800years agoaccordingtothisbook.

SHRI M.S. ANEY:6,000yearsago.

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA:Thatiswhatyousay.ButcanyouconvinceMr.ChaglaorDr.Radhakrishnanwhoareresponsiblefor thispublication?ThebookdoesnotprovidespacefortheRigvedicpoetrybecauseitmaintainsthattheRigvedaisnotsoancient.

Idon’twanttogointodetailedarguments.ThereareotherargumentstoprovetheancientnessofRigveda.ButImayheredrawyourattentiontowhatProfessorGoverdhanRoyofKosambiexcavationsays.Ihadaskedhimtowriteanarticlewhichhehassentme.Itisverytechnicalinparts.Anewprocesscalledtheradio-carbonprocesshasbeeninventedwithwhich

youcantelltheageofthings.HesaysthatthisprocesswasnotavailableduringtheKosambiexcavationandnowbyapplyingitontheKumbaripotsthelatterarebeingplacedbetween2035B.C.to640A.D.Theseexcavations have notmademuch impression onforeignscholarsandtheindigenousscholarsdonotattachmuch importance to them.Ifyou likeImaypassonthisnotetoyouandyoumayplacethisonthetableoftheHousesothattheGovernmentmaybeenabledtocarryon

somedialoguewiththeUnitedNations.

CHAIRMAN:Nowhemustconcludeinaminute.

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA:Ishallrequireaboutfiveminutesmoretofinish.Letmehurry.Thebooksays:WithregardtotheHarappaCivilization,‘Theelaborate fortification of the citadelswould hardlyhave been necessary to protect the cities againstraidingparties from themountains ofBaluchistan;moreprobablytheywereintendedtoovercomethecountryside,theassumptionbeingthattherulerandcitizenswere of an alien stockwhichhad reducedtheirindigenousinhabitantstothestatesofserfs.Thisiswhat theauthor says.Against this IdonotwishtoaddmuchtothecontroversyraisedbytheSovietRussians,whoperhapsarenotveryassertiveintheirowncountryinrespectoftheCzars.NeverthelessIwanttobowmyheadtothemforhavingdemonstratedgreaterunderstandingoftheancienthistoryofIndiathantheWesternhistoriansandtheBritishhistoriansinparticular.‘Prof.I.M.DiakonoffandProf.G.F.Ilyinnote thatnoconclusiveproof exists that the rulingclasswasof foreignorigin.ThecitadelsmayhavebeensimilartothebaronialcastlesofGermanyintheMiddleages.’SirLeonardWooleyinordertoasserttheforeignoriginputsoutthearguments,thatthereappearedanewculturewithinthecitadelsagainstthedestructionof anold culture. If similar studies aremadeinrespectofGermany,RussiaorEnglandonewouldfrequentlycomeacrossthephenomenonoftheseveralpartsofthesameculturefightingoneofwhichgetsvictorioustothedestructionofothers.Thatistheprocessofthedevelopmentofnewtrendsinasociety.But thesehistorians ruleout thepossibilityofnewtrendsemergingfromthecoreoftheIndiansociety.AndtheyrulethemindoftheIndianhistorians,the


biggestofthem,insuchanoverwhelmingmannerthateventhehistoriansofIndiasupposethatanyrenewaloftheIndianculturewasimpossiblewithoutphysicalcontractwiththeforeigner.ThelattercouldbeeithertheAfghanortheMughalortheEnglishandsoon.Thishasaffectedour speeches.OneoftenhearsofIndiabeinguniqueinthematterofassimilatingheraggressors.Oursisthecountryforeverworkingoutasynthesis,itisa

case of unity and diversity.This is notmerelygibberish.Itpoisonsthemindandweakensthewill.Theimpactofsuchabeliefpreparesthemindnottoresistpresentaggressions.Wearebroad-mindedandprogressive,sowhatdowelosebyaggression.Anydefeatwouldbetemporary.Ultimatelythesynthesisingpowerinourculturewouldconvertthealienvictorinto a subsidiary part of ourselves.Wemust cry ahalftothiskindofthinking.Assimilationisalwaysoftwotypes,itiseitheroftheslaveorofthemaster.ThehistoryofIndiaofthelastonethousandyearscanteachonlytheassimilationofthefirsttype.Itisnouseblamingonlytheforeignhistorians.TheIndianhistoriansarewallowinginthesamepoison.Boththeschools of historyhere—one ledbyDr.TarachandandtheotherledbyDr.Mazumdar—belongtotheconceptofunityindiversityandassimilation.TheirattentionisscatteredonwhatthedifferentpartsarewithoutanyregardtothetaskofunderstandingwhatIndiaisessentially.

Thenew trendsof culture are attributed toRajaRammohunRoyorMansinghorGhazni orGhori.But such renewals can hardlywithstand the nextforeignonslaught.ThatiswhythegovernmentofIndiashouldconsidertheseproblemswithallseriousness.Today there is only a half-anhour discussion.Butit deserves a debate of two or three days. For theproblemoftheNagas,theMizos,Kashmir,Adivasisandthelikehavebehindthemthispoisonouserrorofinterpretingourhistoryinawrongway,ofdividingthepeopleintoAryans,non-Aryans,DravidiansandMongols.Andthiswholeedificehasbeenerectedontheslenderevidenceoflinguisticvariations.Theresultisbeforeus.Suchwritingsaresponsoredbyaworldorganisation.LetnotMr.Chaglatrytoreplytome.

SHRI SARAF: TheHon’blemembershouldlisten

totheMinister’sreply.

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA:Idonotneedareplyformyself.IwanthimtodosomethingabouthistoryandmathematicsinIndia.ThesearethetwoessentialstudiesonwhichdependstheprogressorotherwiseofpresentdayIndia.History,asIhavepointedoutearlier,istheunderstandingofourpast.Ourunderstandingofthepastiserroneousandtheyoungergenerationisnottaughtproperly,thiscountrycannotachievehappinessorprosperity.Mathematicsisthebasisofallpresentdayscientificdevelopments,ittakesman—theSovietandtheAmericanman—tothemoon.Bothhistoryandmathematicsaredeadinouruniversities.Ipleadforimprovementinthesefields.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA(TheMinisterofEducation):Mr.Chairman,intheheatanddustofpoliticalbattlesitisveryrefreshingthatwearenowstrikinganacademicnotebydiscussingthequestionofhistory.IamverygratefultoDr.Lohiaforhavingraisedthisquestionbecause it isvery important that fromtime to timeweshouldwithdrawfromthesepoliticalcontestsandthinkofmoreimportantsubjectslikehistory,cultureandart.

Dr.Lohiahasaskedthequestion:WhatisHistory?Itisafascinatingquestionandeverybodyinterestedinhistorywouldliketogiveananswertoit.Historyisrecapturingthepast,butitisnotmerelyrecapturingthepast.Ahistoriandoesnotmerelywritedownthefactsofthepast.Ahistorianalsoassessesthepast.Heinterpretsthepast.Hepassesjudgementonthepast.Eveninwritingdownthefactsandthedatehecanbe selective.Hemayomit certain facts.Therefore,theroleofthehistorianisveryimportant.Itiswrongtothinkofhistoryasmerelyacatalogueofthepast.Thegreaterthehistorianthegreaterhisinterpretation.AndmayIsaythistoDr.Lohiathatinterpretationwillalwaysdiffer?Onehistorianhavingthesamefactorswillinterprettheminonewayandanotherhistorianwill interpret them in anotherway.Very often theinterpretationmaynotbeacceptabletous;but,asIsaid,itistherightofahistorian,ifheishonesttohisvocation,tointerpretthefactsinhisownlight.Havingsaidthat,mayI,firstofall,clearthemisapprehensioninthemindofmyhon.friend,Dr.Lohia?Hesaidthattheresponsibilityofthishistorywhichis,Historyof


Mankind:Cultural andScientificDevelopment, isfirstlyon theUNO,secondlyon theUNESCOandthirdlyontheGovernmentofIndia.Thisisentirelyanerroneousstatement.AndIwillpointitout.

WhathappenedwasthattheUNESCOappointedaninternationalcommissionofhistorians, themostdistinguished historians of theworld according toUNESCO,anditisquiteclearthattheresponsibilityforwriting this historywas not on theUNESCO,but on the international commission. Imake thisclear fromwhathasbeenstated in the foreword tothis volumeby theDirectorGeneral ofUNESCO.Itsays:“TheauthorofthishistoryisnotUNESCO;itistheinternationalcommissionwhichsince1950has directed this venture in complete intellectualindependence.”

SHRI SIVAMURTHI SWAMY (KOPPAL):What authority has appointed this internationalcommission?

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA: UNESCO can appointanycommission.Theyappointvariouscommissions.

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA:Who did it?Whoappointedthiscommission.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA: It goes on: It is to thecommission, therefore, and to it alone that the fullcredit for thiswork is due. It also bears the soleresponsibilityforitsscientificwork.MayIadd,fullcreditand,ifthereisdiscredit,itissolelythediscreditof thiscommission.Then,ProfessorCarneiro,whowasthePresidentoftheCommission,clearlytakesthestandintheprefacetoVolumeOneofhisbookthattheauthor-editorswillbefullyresponsibleforthetext.Letmepointoutwhathappened.WehadthreeIndiansonthiscommission.Dr.Bhabha,ProfessorMajumdar,andSardarPanikkar.Whenthetextwasprepared,itwassenttoournationalcommissioninthiscountry.Itwassenttoallthenationalcommissions.WesubmittedthistexttoProfessorMazumdar,theDirectorGeneralofArchaeologyandShriLal,whowastheAssistantDirectorGeneral.These distinguished gentlemenin India submitted the criticisms of the text.Theyviolently differed from someof the interpretationsput upon the past by these authors. Imust say in

fairness to the authors that, although in the texttheyadheredtotheirview,theyincorporatedinthenotesthecriticismsubmittedbyProf.Majumdarandothers,sothatanybodyreadingthishistorynotonlygets the text according to the authors but also theother criticismof the textwherever they diverted.Sowhere does the responsibility of theMinistryof Education come in?Here is an InternationalCommissionworking in intellectual independenceand,asithasbeenpointedout,consistingofeminenthistorians; theyprepare thehistoryof thepast, thepre-historicperiodanditissubmittednottous,butto the InternationalCommission;we send it to theproperauthoritiesandtheircriticismisforwardedtotheCommissionandthatcriticismisincorporatedinthehistory.Therefore,IbegtosubmittothisHouseandtoDr.LohiathatitisentirelywrongtoblametheGovernment of India or theMinistry ofEducationfornothaving takenadequatesteps tosee thatanymisinterpretationofIndianhistorydoesnotfigureinsoimportantabook.TheresponsibilitywasentirelyofthisCommission.Evenso,theGovernmentofIndiadiddoallthatitcoulddotoseethatourobjectiontoanymisinterpretationofourhistoryareincorporatedinthisvolumeIhavenotime;otherwiseIwouldpointoutthenumberofnoteswhereProf.Majumdar’sviewissetout.Theauthorsaysthathedoesnotagree.Afterall,heisanauthor;heisentitledtohisview;wemaynotagreewithhim.Thisistheposition.

SHRI BHAGWAT JHA AZAD:Icanunderstandhonestinterpretationbutnotmischievousinterpretation.WeholdtheGovernmentofIndiaresponsibleforthis.TheGovernmentofIndiaknewthatherewasabodywhichwasgivingawronginterpretationofhistory—differingnothonestlybutmischievously—andtheyshouldhaveprotested. It is not enough to say thatitwasanhonestbody.What ishonest in thatbodyif it tries to tarnish the fairhistoryofourcountry?WewanttoknowfromtheGovernmentastowhattheyhavedoneinthisregard?ItisnotenoughtosaythatProf.Majumdar’scriticismisincorporated.TheGovernment shouldhavemadeefforts todrop thatpassagefromhistory.

SHRI KAPUR SINGH:TheHon.memberwhohasmovedthismotionhasdemonstratedbeforethisHousethatthesehistoriansarenotonlyignorantbut


might say things for ulterior purposes.Merely bycallingthememinentanddistinguished,theMinisterwill not be able tomeet the pointwhich theHon.memberhasraised.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA: As I pointed out,Government did all thatwas possible.The textsweresubmittedtodistinguishedandeminentIndianhistorians; their criticismwas invited and itwasforwardedto theInternationalCommissionandtheInternationalCommissionwere not responsible forits publication; theUNESCOwas not responsible;theUNESCO, having appointed an InternationalCommission, left it to the authors and on thatInternationalCommissionwewere represented bythesedistinguishedIndians.

SHRI BHAGWAT JHA AZAD:TheGovernmentofIndiaispayingahandsomeamounttothemandthisbodygets themoneytowriteahistoryagainstus.AsGovernment,whathavetheydone?Whydidtheynotprotest?IfProf.Majumdarfailed,whydidtheGovernmentfail?Wewanttoknowthis.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA:AsIsaid,wedidallthatwecould.Idonotknowwhatmorewecouldhavedonetopointouttheerrorsintowhichthehistorianshadfallen.Thecriticismisalsopartofthishistory.Anybodywhoreadsthishistorywillnotonlyreadthetextwhichmaybeliableonourculture,butwillalso read in the notes the commentsmade by thedistinguishedhistorianslikeProf.Majumdar,sothatanyfair-mindedreaderwillknowbothsidesof thepicturebeforehedrawsanyconclusion.WhatmoreGovernmentofIndiacoulddo?Wedidnotpublishthisbook.Dr.RammanoharLohiahasraisedthequestionof the age of theRigveda. I agree that this authortakestheviewthattheRigvedadoesnotgobeyond1200years.Itisquitecontrarytowhatallofusknowandfeelstrongly,namelythattheRigvedaisaveryancientbook,oneofthefinestsymbolsofourculture,agreatcontributiontoourliteratureandpoetry.Herealsointhenoteithasbeenpointedoutwhatourviewaboutthisis.AsIhavesaid,againtheerrorhasbeenpointedout,andthecriticismofthaterrorhasbeenincorporatedinthenotes.

Dr. Rammanohar Lohia has also talked about

FiveThousandYears of Pakistan. Pakistan cameinto existence only nineteen years ago.As I saidin theSecurityCouncil, before nineteenyears, theonlyculturewasIndianculture;theonlyhistorywasIndianhistoryandtheonlybackgroundwasIndianbackground.NoPakistanicanlookbacktohisowncountry beyond nineteen years. If he tries to lookback, he can only look back to Indian culture, toIndianhistory,andmayIadd,toIndianforefathers.Therefore,itisridiculousforanyhistoriantotalkoffivethousandyearsofPakistan.Idonotknowwhohaswrittenthisbook.Ihavenotcomeacrossit.

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA:Ifyouwantthename,Icantellyou:R.E.M.Wheeler:FiveThousandYearsof Pakistan—AnArchaeologicalOutline,London,1950.He is a great archaeologist, not an ordinaryperson.Hecanteachyouallsortsofthings.Pleasedonotgivemeananswertoday.Takeyourtime.Itwouldgladdenourheartstohavealengthydiscussiononitsometime.

SHRI KAPUR SINGH:Wehadkept himhereforanumberofyears.Evenafterthepartitionhewashere.HehaswrittenthebookentitledFiveThousandYearsofPakistan.HewasaformerDirector-GeneralofArchaeologyhere.Heisthesamefellow.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA:Weareveryproudofourancientcivilisation.Itgoesback,thousandsofyears.IagreewithwhatmyHon.friendShriR.S.Pandeyhassaidthatitistimeourownpeoplewriteourownhistoryandgiveacorrectinterpretationaboutthepast.

SHRI SHAM LAL SARAF:Buthowsoon?

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA: Iamcoming to that. Ihavealwaysfeltthatoneofthemisfortunesofourcountryisthatmostofourhistorybookshavebeenwrittenbyforeignerswhohaveinjectedpoisonintoourcountry,andhavegivenatotallyfalsereadingofwhathappened.NowIshalltellyouwhatwearedoing.Thatismoretothepoint.Wehavesetupaboard of distinguished peoplewho are re-writingIndianHistory,fromthepointofviewofIndia,fromthepointofviewofournationalintegration,fromthepoint of viewof our culture.Thesebooks arenotreadyyet,butsomeofthemwillbereadybythe


endofthisyear.Myviewis,myhopeisthatthesebookswillbesenttothevariousstatesandwillbetranslated into our different Indian languages andwillbetaughttothestudents.Thereisnothingmoreimportantineducationthantogivetotheyoungboyandyounggirlinschoolacorrectviewofhisorherowncountry,ofhisorherownhistory,andofhisorherownpast.Therefore,Iagreewiththeviewthatweshouldattachmuchmoreimportancetohistory.Then, take the other thing thatwe are doing.WehavesetuprecentlytheNehruLibraryandMuseumwherewearecollectingallthebookspossiblefortheperiodwhichstartsfromRajaRammohunRoytillmodernage.TheideaistogetIndianscholarsthereandtry towrite thehistoryofmoderntimes.RajaRammohunRoyplayedaverybigpartinourIndianhistory,but there ishardlyanyhistoryabouthim.FromthatperioddowntoIndependenceorbeyond,we had a galaxy ofmenwho have contributedto India’s Independence and India’s struggle forfreedom.So,thereagain,wearedoingwhatwecan,topromotehistoricalstudyandhistoricalscholarship.Therefore,wearedoingwhatwecantohelpyoungpeopletothinkaboutthepastofIndiaandtowriteaboutIndia.Wedonotwantahistorywhichisbiasedinourfavour,andIdonotthinkthatweneedthatbias,becauseourhistoryisgreatenough,andevenanhonestandfairinterpretationwouldbesufficienttoprove toourselves.Butas faras thisparticularquestion about theUNESCO book is concerned,asIhavesaid,IdonotthinkthatitisrighttofoistupontheGovernmentaresponsibilitywhichisnotits.Itistheresponsibility,notevenoftheUNESCO,certainlynotoftheUN,butitistheresponsibilityofthisinternationalcommission.

[29-4-66]

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA: I did not get anopportunitytoreplytothediscussion,onthe‘HistoryofMankind’,soIcouldnotacknowledgemydebt,andsecondly,amisunderstandingwascreatedaboutnativeandforeignhistorians.NowIwouldliketogiveapersonalexplanation.

IamgratefultoShriVinayakPurohitwhoinhisforthcomingbookBhartiyaKala iscommentingonthemistakesdetected in theUNESCOpublication,

andwhoshowedthemanuscriptofhisbooktomebeforepublication.Thequestionisnotofnativeandforeignhistoriansbutofapproach.Russianhistorians,Prof.DiokonoffandProf.Illynhavegivennotesontwo seriousmistakes in the book, foreign rule inHarappa,andforeigninfluencebehindthePatliputraarchitecture.Dr.MajumdarhasgivenanoteonthemistakeaboutRigveda,butthatisonlyanopinion,whereasevidenceisnowavailablefromtheKausambiexcavations.KausambicaninnowaybeconsideredapartofIndusvalleycivilization,andthis,apartoftheVediccivilization,goesbackto3500yearsago.InthisconnectionIhadrequestedyourpermissiontokeeponthetableoftheHousethenoteofDr.GovardhanRaiSharma.Youhavereceivedit.Indianhistoriographyisdiseased.Ourancientculturegivesittheformofpoetry.Foreignplayboysofhistory,fromFarishtatoVincentSmithregardalmosteveryconquestofIndiaas inevitableanduseful.Allnativehistorians,whocount in academic circles, are imitators followingthetrailleftbytheseforeigners.Idonotknowofasinglenativeacademichistorianwhohassucceededincomingoutofthisrut.ThequestionisnotmerelyoftheUNESCOpublication.Thebook1857,publishedbytheGovernmentofIndia,isevenmoredefective,false, and unacademic.All academic historians inIndiahavethesameattitude,althoughtheremaybedifferencesaboutthisorthatdetail.

Now the need is of historianswhowould leavetherut.

Portions of Lohia’s statement which the Speaker did not allow to be read in the House.

Therearethreemainidentifyingcharacteristicsofthisdiseasedattitudeortradition.

(i)Insignificantandsurfacialchangesaregiventhe nameof a renaissance.Contactwith almostevery foreign conqueror is called a renaissance,eventhoughitissoshort-livedastobedestroyedby the next aggressor. Dr. Tarachand andDr.Majumdardifferonlyonquestionastowhichoftheconquestsbroughtaboutarenaissance.

(ii) The same symptoms aremarked in the


SHRI M.C. CHAGLA(TheMinisterofEducation):Iwouldnothaveintervenedinthismatterbutforthelast paragraph inDr.Lohia’s statement, andwhichhas nothing to dowith the subject-matter of thehalf-hourdiscussion.ItwasabookpublishedbytheInternationalCommission, requestedbyUNESCO.Dr.Lohiacastaseriousreflectionupontheauthorof1857India,whowasaverydistinguishedman.Heisnolonger.

SHRI RANGA:Hewrote under the orders ofGovernment.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA:Iwillreadoneparagraphfrom theForewordwrittenbyMaulanaAzad, thenMinisterofEducation.

SHRI RANGA:At that timewetookexceptiontothatbook.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA: I would request ShriRangatoallowmetoproceed.

SHRI RANGA:He has become theEducationMinisternow.Butlongbeforethis,Sir,whenyouweretheDeputySpeaker,thisbookwasdiscussedandsomanycommentsweremadebydifferentspeakersinthisHouse.

MR.SPEAKER:Onthehalf-an-hourdiscussion

that took place,Dr. Lohiawanted some personalexplanation.Now theMinisterwants to say a fewwordsonthat.

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA:IfIwouldhavebeenallowedtospeakthatday,hewouldnothavebeenabletospeaklikethis.Iwasnotallowedtospeakthatdayinviolationofrules.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA:Thisiswhathehassaid:“ThepresentbookistheresultoftheworkthatDr.SenhasundertakenatthecommissionoftheGovernmentofIndia”.

SHRI RANGA:Thatwas the gravamenof ourcharge.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA:Thenhesays:“TheonlydirectiveIissuedwasthatheshouldwriteabookfromthestandpointofatruehistorian.”Iemphasisethat.

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA: Try to be a littlemodest,Mr.Chagla,speakwithacoolhead.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA:Thenhesays:“Beyondthis general instruction therewas no attempt tointerferewithhisworkorinfluencehisconclusion.Theresponsibilityfortheselectionandinterpretationofeventsis,thereforeexclusivelyhis.TheGovernmentofIndiaarenotinanywaycommittedbyanyexpressionofhisopinion.” Ihavegotabookhere:whichDr.Lohiamayreadinhisleisuretime.Itiscalled1857India.Here I have got a collection of opinions ofdifferenthistorianswhohave takendifferentviewsabout1857.‘ThereisSavarkarwhohastaken....

SHRI NATH PAI:Why don’tYou re-publishSavarkar’sbook.Itwasre-publishedbyBhagatSinghandNetajiSubasChandraBose.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA:Thatisnottheposition.

RAMMANOHAR LOHIA: That historian isutterlywrong.

MR. SPEAKER:Hemayberight,orsomebodyelsemayberight.WhatyousaidandwhattheMinisterissaying,bothwillgoonrecords.Lethimfinish,ascontroversycannotberaisedatthismoment.

integrationoftheslaveasintheintegrationofthemaster.

(iii)TheyaresofascinatedbyVincentSmith’sdisastroussloganofunityindiversitythatintheirlaboured search for diversity, unity is lost fromtheirsight.

The disease is now beyond the capacity ofacademic historians.Only politics can nowovercomemalady. Just as foreign regimes gavebirth to Farishta andVincent Smith and theirattitude,thenativestateshouldnowtrytocorrectthe vision of historicism.But history has nowbecomeofficial,orsuperficiallynational,oruntrue,orsufferfromthepersonality-cult.Iwassorry,thatinthenameof‘renownedhistorian’theMinisterstucktotheoldattitude.Renownedhistoriansaretreadingthesameoldrut.


RAMMANOHAR LOHIA:Notwe,heisraisingacontroversy.

MR. SPEAKER:Yougaveastatement,heshouldalsohavethesay.

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA:Lastbutnot least,ShriMazumdar,oneofthemostdistinguishedhistoriansofourcountry,whoisstillalive—Dr.Lohiahasquotedhiminhissupport—hastakenthatview.IhavealsogothereaquotationfromPanditJawaharlalNehru’sDiscoveryofIndia,wherehetakesthesameviewasDr.Sen.

SHRI HARI VISHNU KAMATH:Thatisnotthelastword(Interruptions).

SHRI C.K. BHATTACHARYA(Raiganj).Sir,ithasbecomedifficultforustofollowtheproceedingbecauseoftheseconditions(interruptions.)

MR. SPEAKER: Has the Hon.Minister ofEducationconcluded?

SHRI M.C. CHAGLA:YesSir.

POSTSCRIPT :

1.The realquestion is, towhatextent is India’shistoryreallyrottenandhowfarhashistoricalwritingaggravatedthisrottenness.Whatarethepossibilities?ItispossiblethattheIndianpeoplehavebeenspeciallypronetothevoiceofforeignsubjugation.

2.Itispossiblethathistoriographyinthiscountryhas turned this vice into a virtue and has caughtsuccessive generations to confuse enslavementwith synthesis, surface changeswith renaissance,disintegrationwithdiversity.

3. It is possible that Indian history-writing hasfurthersinnedinlookingforsynthesiswhereitdoesnotexist,forforeigninspirationandeveninfluxallovertheplace.

[Mankind, September 1966]

Prof. Brass: I would like to hear about yourviews on the history of the socialistmovementinIndia,yourrelationswithJayaprakash,Aruna;AcharyaNarendraDev,AshokMehta.Areyouadisruptionistorareyounotadisruptionist?

Dr. Lohia:Yes,thatisso.ButcuriouslyenoughIwastheonlyonewhoneverfoughtwithanyoneofthemoveranything.Andunlesstheyareliars,theywillallhavetosubstantiateit.Jayaprakash,Aruna,Achyut, theyall foughteachotheronsomethingortheother.Ineverdid.Ashok,Jayaprakash,bigclashes.But then,maybe,somethingwrongwithme,maybe I’m unlucky.Maybe as Jayaprakashhimselftoldmeonce,preciselybecauseyoudon’tever fight with us, relations with you become

Excerpts from the interview with Rammanohar Lohia by Prof. Paul Brass which was recorded on 31st July and 5th

August 1967 at New Delhi:difficult.Becauseifyoufought,wewouldkindofgettogetheronsomethingortheother.Youknow,fightingover,inpoliticsafterall,peoplefightover,you knowwhat kind of things.They don’t fightoverissues.…Interruption…

Prof. Brass:yourinterpretationofthehistoryofthesocialistmovement.Whyhaveallthesepeoplegone different ways?Of all the early leaders, Ithinktherearenottwowhoareinthesamecamp…Interruption…

Dr. Lohia:...andafewothers.Andtheyhadn’taproperjail.Sotheyputusinanopenroom,youknow,openkindof,youknow,threewallsandthefourth side open.And sevenof us, side by side,


andwith twoarmedsentriesall the timekindoftendingus,Imean,sothatwewouldn’trunawayor something.And eventually what used to bethenknownastheAzadDasta,Free...Bandsyoumight...FreedomBandsorFreeBands,youknow.So,wewereorganizingthem.Andtheycamealongsometimemidnightorlittleaftermidnightandtheyhaddonetheirjobratherwell,youknow,cutthetelephoneand telegraphwires --which iswhereI suppose theArabsmade theirmistake in theirwaragainstIsrael--improperorganization–andmoreor less kindofmade the collector captive,atleastforthathalfanhourorso.Thentherewasanexchangeoffirewiththesentries.Imean,asItoldyou,...andJayaprakashandIwerelyingsideby side.Wewere asleep -- at least Iwas -- andso thedin,youknow,dinorwhatshall Icall it?Andthatwokeusupandbothofusnaturallygotup involuntarily,half, like this, andbulletswerewhistlingallover.Now,Idon’twanttobe,notthatIknowanythingmoreofarmedaffairsthanhedoes.Infact,hewasmoreforarmedactionthanIwas.Anyway,Iaskedhimto,Iwon’ttellyouinwhatlanguage[laughter].So,inanycase,IatoncelaiddownandIaskedhimtodolikewise.Isupposeasentryortwodiedintheprocess,

Imean,thatwasunfortunate.Idon’tlikedeathsofanykind.Andthenweescaped.ThatIthinkwasour,andthenafterthatwehadanotherencounter,anotherencounterwith them.Apersonwhowasaccompanyingme,youknow,because therewaschangeof,changeof,whatshallIsay,companions.So,oneofthemwasarrestedbytherailwaypoliceforpickpocketingandthefellowcamealongtoourcompartment askingme to give him the clothesyou know.And that gaveme fright, because Icould have been arrested as his accomplice. SoanywayIreachedCalcutta.Inthelargercity,youaresometimessaferthan...

Prof. Brass:Wherewasthisescapefrom?

Dr. Lohia:Nepal,Hanuvennagar…

Dr. Lohia:Becausetheywerenearthejungles,

youknow,theywerehavingallkindsofpracticeandorganizingthenbecausebeforethat,youmustremember that for a week or ten days Britishauthorityhadceasedtoexistinseveralareas--Iwouldn’tsayalloverthecountry--particularlyinUttarPradeshandBihar.Andatleastonedistrictmagistratewas arrested and thatwas thedistrictmagistrateofBallia.Veryfewpeopleknowthis.

Prof. Brass:Andwherewereyouworking atthistime?

Dr. Lohia:Wewere all inBombaywhen thedecisionwasadopted.Andafterthat,wedispersed--Delhi,Calcutta,Nepal,andsuchlikeplacesallover, you know.We ran a radio too, withwhatsuccessIdonotknow.Butthen,atonetime,wehadalmostexecutedaschemeoftwentytransmitters,you know, to be spread all over the country. Irememberthat.Perhapsthatwassomuchmoneywasted.Fifteenorseventeentransmittershadbeengot ready, but then one after another people gotarrested,theywere...Andthen,IknowMeghnadSahathescientist,oncetoldmethathiscyclotronmachine did not get the crystal that he neededbecausewehadtakenthecrystalthatweneeded.Thatwas a very fine thing, you know. BecausewhenhetoldmethestorywhenIwenttoseehiscyclotron -MeghnadSaha is akindofphysicistof - he didn’t get the Nobel prize, but he wassomewherenearthere,youknow,somewherenearthere.Sowhileshowingmethemachine,hesaid,andmentioned the name of the firm, you know,fromwhichhegot these things, that forawholetwoyears,‘42and‘43,hecouldn’tgetthecrystals.Then,Ilaughed,Isaid,professor,howcouldyougetthecrystals?Wegotthemforourtransmitters.So,butthen,agirl,UshaMehta,verybravegirl,youknow, she’snowprofessorofpolitics at theBombayUniversity,very,verybravegirl,becauseshewasallthetimeinstructingpeopletodestroytheirbelongingsratherthanletthemfallintopolicehands.And so, eventuallywhen, how our arrestcame, youknow, after all someday, she did thething for awhole threemonths.And then therewasaknockon thedoor,on the flat, youknow,


aroundtheflatfromwhereshewastransmitting.Sherealized, thatknock,youknow,somehoworothershegot toknowthat itwasjust thepolice.Insteadofopeningthedoor,shestartedhammeringthetransmitteroutofexistence,thetheorybeingthatwhenIhavebeeninstructingpeopletodestroytheirbelongingsratherthanletthemfallintopolicehands,Imustdothatmyself.Verybravegirl,veryfinegirl,UshaMehta.She’sadoctor.Ithinkshetookherdoctorateinoneofyouruniversities.Andprofessorofpolitics….

Prof. Brass:Andthenshegotarrested.Andsheopenedthedoorandgotarrested.

Dr. Lohia:Well,no, then shedidn’topen thedoor.Oh, no, that girlwon’t.They shot it open,thepolice.Theyhadtoshootthelock,whateveristhat,youknow,that… [end of tape].

Prof. Brass:Couldyouworkwith theDMK?Let’ssaythatthe,Mrs.Gandhigoes,theCongressisoutintwoorthreeyears,asDr.Lohiasays.CanyouworkwithDMKandcantheJanSanghworkwiththeDMK?

Dr. Lohia: Idon’tknowabouttheJanSangh.Incidentally, the Jan Sangh put up a candidateagainstme.It’snotverywidelyknown.Becauseofmy strategy of trying to get parties together,everybody imaginesas thougheverybodyelse ispleasedwithme,butthatisnottrue.TheJanSanghputupacandidateagainstmeandputupavery,Idon’twanttomakethesituationworsethanitis,averyunfairfight.Imean,I’mputtingitatavery,verycivilizedlevel.Youknowwhattheydid?TheygotholdofaMuslimdefectorfromourranksandwenttotheMuslimvillageswithalargeMuslimvotingstrength,sayavillagecalledJavari,withaMuslimvotingstrengthof2,000,3,000,about60to70,000Muslimvoters,andthisJanSanghi,thatis,thisMuslimJanSanghiwho,intheearlierelectionhadgoneaboutcanvassingasmyagent, told the

MuslimsthatIwasanenemyofIslam,thatIwasopposedtotheKoraniclaw,

Prof. Brass:Wellyouare,Isuppose.

Dr. Lohia:thatIwantedauniformcivilcode,butlook-comingasitdoesfromJanSangh.

Prof. Brass:Aren’tyou?

Dr. Lohia:OfcourseIam.Iamforauniformcivil code, but so is the Jan Sangh. Buf the JanSangh,inordertodefeatme,bidgoodbyetoitsownprograms,madeuseofaMuslimdefectorfrommyrankstotelltheMuslimvotersinmyconstituencythatIwasopposedtotheKoraniclawandwantedauniformcivilcode.So,forheaven’ssake,forgetthisabouttheJanSanghandme.Andpoliticsinmycountryisyetalongwayofffrombeingprincipled.

Prof. Brass: Thenletmejustleaveittoyou.CanyouworkwiththeDMKinthecentralgovernment?

Dr. Lohia:Ah,butthenIcanworkwiththeJanSangh,incidentally.

Prof. Brass:Yes,Iknowyoucan.

Dr. Lohia:Inspiteofallthis.BecauseIamnotpersonalinmypolitics.Ithurtsme.Whoisn’thurt?Imean,afterall,Iwouldn’tclaimformyselfanydivinity.I’mahumanbeing.Ithurtsme.ButthenIcouldworkwiththeJanSangh.AstotheDMK,theyareon recordashavingsaid that if there isanypoliticalpartyinthiscountrywithwhichtheyarenearest,itismyparty,andtheyhavementionedmeparticularly,inspiteofmylanguagepolicies.

Prof. Brass:Soyoudon’tseethen,anyultimateconflict.

Dr. Lohia:No,no,pleaseno.Don’truntothatconclusion.That’stoofastaconclusion.

Back to Agriculture Rammanohar...

Documents

Transcript of Back to Agriculture Rammanohar...