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India After the MahatmaIndia After the Mahatma

Prof. Dr. Vibhuti Patel, Prof. Dr. Vibhuti Patel,

DIRECTOR, P.G.S. R.DIRECTOR, P.G.S. R.

Professor and Head, Post Graduate Department of Economics, Professor and Head, Post Graduate Department of Economics,

SNDT Women’s University,SNDT Women’s University,

Smt. Nathibai Thakersey Road, Churchgate, Mumbai-400020Smt. Nathibai Thakersey Road, Churchgate, Mumbai-400020

TelTel91) (22) 22052970, Mobile-9321040048 91) (22) 22052970, Mobile-9321040048

E mail: E mail: vibhuti.np@gmail.comvibhuti.np@gmail.com

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Mahatma Gandhi, a visionary Mahatma Gandhi, a visionary • EEpoch making contribution for socio, poch making contribution for socio,

political, economic and cultural political, economic and cultural transformation transformation

• peaceful peaceful civil disobediencecivil disobedience in the Indian community's struggle in the Indian community's struggle

against racism and for civil rights of against racism and for civil rights of non-white population in non-white population in South AfricaSouth Africa. .

• After his return from South Africa to After his return from South Africa to India, he organized all sections of India, he organized all sections of society, from budding industrialists, society, from budding industrialists, educated intelligentia, women and educated intelligentia, women and children to poor farmers and children to poor farmers and labourers to protest against labourers to protest against oppressive British regime and oppressive British regime and widespread discrimination. widespread discrimination.

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Main Leader of Main Leader of Indian Freedom StruggleIndian Freedom Struggle

• Assuming leadership of the Assuming leadership of the Indian National CongressIndian National Congress, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for the , Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for the alleviation of poverty, for fight against merciless alleviation of poverty, for fight against merciless taxation of poor peasants, for the liberation of taxation of poor peasants, for the liberation of women, for communal harmony and democratic women, for communal harmony and democratic rights of ethnic groups, for an end to barbaric rights of ethnic groups, for an end to barbaric practice of practice of untouchabilityuntouchability and caste discrimination, and caste discrimination, and for the economic self-sufficiency of the and for the economic self-sufficiency of the nation, but above all, for nation, but above all, for Swaraj (home Swaraj (home Rule) Rule) the the independence of India from foreign domination. independence of India from foreign domination.

• Gandhi famously led the civil disobedience Gandhi famously led the civil disobedience movement against the salt tax imposed by the movement against the salt tax imposed by the British Administration with the 400 kilometer British Administration with the 400 kilometer (250 miles) (250 miles) Dandi Salt MarchDandi Salt March in 1930. He in 1930. He masterminded the masterminded the Quit IndiaQuit India Movement Movement in 1942. in 1942.

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Gandhiji’s famous series of articles in Harijan Gandhiji’s famous series of articles in Harijan written during 1908 compiled as “Hind written during 1908 compiled as “Hind Swaraj”(Later on translated into English by him Swaraj”(Later on translated into English by him as Indian home Rule”)as Indian home Rule”)

• gave his vision of future of India and gave his vision of future of India and demanded “human face” for demanded “human face” for

economic development, growth, economic development, growth, science and technology as well as science and technology as well as

nurturance of historically rich nurturance of historically rich cultural legacy of sharing and caringcultural legacy of sharing and caring

based on truth, non-violence, based on truth, non-violence, no stealing, austerity, abolition of no stealing, austerity, abolition of

untouchability and courage of conviction, untouchability and courage of conviction, communal unity, prohibition of alcohol, communal unity, prohibition of alcohol,

promotion of khadi, support to basic education, promotion of khadi, support to basic education, women’s upliftment, language learning ,women’s upliftment, language learning ,

Economic Equality, labour welfare, rights of adivasis, Economic Equality, labour welfare, rights of adivasis, mentoring of students, constructive programmes mentoring of students, constructive programmes

for lepers & Civil Disobedience for lepers & Civil Disobedience against tyrannical rule.against tyrannical rule.

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Economic Development of Economic Development of IndiaIndia after Independenceafter Independence

• Power Blocks after II World War- Marshal PlanPower Blocks after II World War- Marshal Plan• If you look at our development, like in the If you look at our development, like in the

50s, our rate of investment was 12 per cent. 50s, our rate of investment was 12 per cent. In the Eighth Plan our rate of investment was In the Eighth Plan our rate of investment was 25 per cent. We have doubled the rate of 25 per cent. We have doubled the rate of investment because we have doubled our rate investment because we have doubled our rate of savings.. of savings..

• Gandhiji gave a slogan of ‘Swadeshi’ and the Gandhiji gave a slogan of ‘Swadeshi’ and the Indian economic model followed the policy of Indian economic model followed the policy of import substitution and promotion of import substitution and promotion of indigenous industrial development.indigenous industrial development.

• Drain of Resources during colonial ruleDrain of Resources during colonial rule• Huge population to be addressed in the Huge population to be addressed in the

development process.development process.

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Economic policiesEconomic policies• Mixed Economic ModelMixed Economic Model

• Support to Labour Intensive SectorsSupport to Labour Intensive Sectors

• Green Revolution (agricultural Green Revolution (agricultural mechanization, High Yielding mechanization, High Yielding Varieties, etc.) and White Revolution Varieties, etc.) and White Revolution (Animal Husbandry and Dairy (Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development)Development)

• Hindu Rate of Growth- 3.5% Hindu Rate of Growth- 3.5%

• New Economic Policy-1991:New Economic Policy-1991: 4 "Ds" - 4 "Ds" - devaluation, deregulation, deflation devaluation, deregulation, deflation and denationalisation.and denationalisation.

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The post reform period The post reform period • double digit growth rate- Jobless Growth double digit growth rate- Jobless Growth • But the social sector is neglected. State has absolved But the social sector is neglected. State has absolved

itself of responsibilities for public health, state itself of responsibilities for public health, state supported education, food security- supported education, food security- Starvation Starvation deathsdeaths

• Dismantling of PDS has heaped enormous misery on Dismantling of PDS has heaped enormous misery on the poor. The reason lies in onslaught on agriculture the poor. The reason lies in onslaught on agriculture and food-security. and food-security.

• 84% of all economically active women are in 84% of all economically active women are in agriculture, majority into subsistence farming. agriculture, majority into subsistence farming. Opening up of market since 1-4-2000 for 729 new Opening up of market since 1-4-2000 for 729 new commodities that can be imported unrestrictedly has commodities that can be imported unrestrictedly has resulted in enormous tragedies resulting into resulted in enormous tragedies resulting into farmers suicidesfarmers suicides..

• Starvation deaths among tribal areas have become Starvation deaths among tribal areas have become regular feature of the pattern of economic growth. regular feature of the pattern of economic growth.

• Prices of rubber, cotton, coconut, coffee, cardamom, Prices of rubber, cotton, coconut, coffee, cardamom, pepper, tomatoes, sugarcane and potatoes have pepper, tomatoes, sugarcane and potatoes have crashed. crashed.

• Rising inflation has reduced purchasing power of the Rising inflation has reduced purchasing power of the poor. poor.

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ReRelevance of Gandhijilevance of Gandhiji’s philosophy ’s philosophy

of distributive justice and social justiceof distributive justice and social justice • Ghandhian economics demanded that the Ghandhian economics demanded that the

agrarian development must be viewed as a agrarian development must be viewed as a core element of the poverty alleviation core element of the poverty alleviation policies, since growth in this sector is likely policies, since growth in this sector is likely to lead to the widest spread of benefits to lead to the widest spread of benefits especially to the rural poor. especially to the rural poor.

• The first generation of economic reforms The first generation of economic reforms concentrated on reforms in the industrial concentrated on reforms in the industrial economy and the reforms in agricultural economy and the reforms in agricultural sector were neglected. This must change sector were neglected. This must change now. now.

• 54% of India’s population is below 25 years 54% of India’s population is below 25 years of age and the economic growth of India of age and the economic growth of India must include them then only rhetoric of must include them then only rhetoric of “Inclusive Growth” and “Growth with “Inclusive Growth” and “Growth with Human Face” will become a realityHuman Face” will become a reality. .

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Socio-political Development Socio-political Development of India since Independenceof India since Independence• accommodative of diversity and accommodative of diversity and

respectful of federalism. respectful of federalism.

• parliamentary democracy and parliamentary democracy and multiparty system, multiparty system,

• ‘‘Democracy versus Development’, Democracy versus Development’, ‘Secularism versus Monotheism’ and ‘Secularism versus Monotheism’ and ‘Pluralism versus Homogeneity.’ ‘Pluralism versus Homogeneity.’

• Relevance of Mahatma Relevance of Mahatma

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Security & Related IssuesSecurity & Related Issues

• Over the last six decades, an India that was a Over the last six decades, an India that was a vocal exponent of disarmament was compelled vocal exponent of disarmament was compelled by circumstances to emerge as a nuclear by circumstances to emerge as a nuclear weapon state. weapon state.

• The challenge that we will now face is to The challenge that we will now face is to fashion diplomacy more appropriate to our fashion diplomacy more appropriate to our present strategic posture, while present strategic posture, while simultaneously pursuing disarmament goals. simultaneously pursuing disarmament goals.

• Development economists of South Asia have Development economists of South Asia have unanimously demanded that in all countries unanimously demanded that in all countries defense budgets ( Rs. 5/- crores per day in defense budgets ( Rs. 5/- crores per day in India) must be diverted to education, public India) must be diverted to education, public health, employment generation and skill health, employment generation and skill development. development.

• But it can be achieved only when all countries But it can be achieved only when all countries embrace Gandhiji’s philosophy of ‘peaceful embrace Gandhiji’s philosophy of ‘peaceful coexistence’ as a way of life.coexistence’ as a way of life.

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Relevance of Non-Relevance of Non-alignment and Foreign alignment and Foreign Policy IssuesPolicy Issues• Backdrop-Partition & Colonialism, Cold Backdrop-Partition & Colonialism, Cold WarWar

• India has an instinctive preference for India has an instinctive preference for multipolarity multipolarity

• cross-cutting issues include terrorism, cross-cutting issues include terrorism, drug-trafficking, international crime, drug-trafficking, international crime, energy and environment crisis, civil wars energy and environment crisis, civil wars and territorial wars and territorial wars

• Knowledge Economy- IT- global Knowledge Economy- IT- global neighbourhood neighbourhood

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Bilateral Relations with Neighbours & Bilateral Relations with Neighbours & BeyondBeyond• All major indices e.g. growth of trade, All major indices e.g. growth of trade,

investment, transport and investment, transport and communications, point to India’s communications, point to India’s economic resurgence becoming an economic resurgence becoming an integral component of the Asian growth integral component of the Asian growth story. story.

• Global integration will come increasingly Global integration will come increasingly through greater connectivity and through greater connectivity and enmeshing with the dynamic economies enmeshing with the dynamic economies of South East Asia and East Asia. of South East Asia and East Asia.

• A steady evolution in India’s Look East A steady evolution in India’s Look East Policy – from a sectoral to a full dialogue Policy – from a sectoral to a full dialogue partner with ASEAN and the imminent partner with ASEAN and the imminent prospect of an India-ASEAN Free Trade prospect of an India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. The East Asia Summit is an Agreement. The East Asia Summit is an even broader canvas on which such even broader canvas on which such integration could be pursued. integration could be pursued.

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India’s Culture, Cultural India’s Culture, Cultural Diplomacy & GlobalisationDiplomacy & Globalisation • What kind of India the world would see in the What kind of India the world would see in the

21st century? It would be an India largely 21st century? It would be an India largely focused in raising the quality of life of its focused in raising the quality of life of its people. This will be the basis on which our people. This will be the basis on which our external engagements would be judged. external engagements would be judged.

• We have the cultural strengths and the self-We have the cultural strengths and the self-assurance to meet the world on our terms. What assurance to meet the world on our terms. What augurs well is that India, as a cross-roads augurs well is that India, as a cross-roads culture, has never seen the world in adversarial culture, has never seen the world in adversarial terms. terms.

• If the past is a guide at all, the world could learn If the past is a guide at all, the world could learn much from South East Asia’s long tradition of much from South East Asia’s long tradition of interaction with India. That tradition has been interaction with India. That tradition has been very much one of an exchange of ideas, people very much one of an exchange of ideas, people and commerce. and commerce.

• Therefore, one can safely predict that interests Therefore, one can safely predict that interests of this region would be well served by a more of this region would be well served by a more prosperous, confident and active India. prosperous, confident and active India.

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Mahatma’s Message Mahatma’s Message • Mahatma Gandhi advocated that Mahatma Gandhi advocated that

respect, understanding, respect, understanding, appreciation and compassion has to appreciation and compassion has to be relevant at all times. be relevant at all times.

• If we conclude that nonviolence is If we conclude that nonviolence is not relevant today we are saying in not relevant today we are saying in effect that the positive attitudes of effect that the positive attitudes of respect, understanding, respect, understanding, appreciation and compassion are appreciation and compassion are not relevant. not relevant.

• If that be so then we cannot claim If that be so then we cannot claim to be a civilised society. to be a civilised society.

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Jingoism versusJingoism versus Non-violence Non-violence• Over the years many have concluded that non-Over the years many have concluded that non-

violence is a "negative" philosophy because we violence is a "negative" philosophy because we insert a hyphen in the word and make it the insert a hyphen in the word and make it the opposite of violence. opposite of violence.

• In reality it is the other way around. What we In reality it is the other way around. What we forget is that to practice violence we have to be forget is that to practice violence we have to be arrogant, hateful, angry and capable of arrogant, hateful, angry and capable of dehumanising people so that we can hurt and dehumanising people so that we can hurt and even kill them. even kill them.

• These and more are negative emotions and These and more are negative emotions and attitudes that dominate our psyche to such an attitudes that dominate our psyche to such an extent that we have now become victims of a extent that we have now become victims of a culture of violence that controls every aspect of culture of violence that controls every aspect of human life. human life.

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ConclusionConclusion• Practice non-violence one has to be Practice non-violence one has to be

dominated by positive emotions and dominated by positive emotions and attitudes like love, understanding, attitudes like love, understanding, respect, compassion and social justice. respect, compassion and social justice.

• It is only when we learn to respect It is only when we learn to respect people as human beings that we will be people as human beings that we will be able to truly practice nonviolence. We able to truly practice nonviolence. We cannot and should not be selective in cannot and should not be selective in whom we respect, it has to be whom we respect, it has to be unconditional and all pervasive. unconditional and all pervasive.

• Hence, India had to pursue economic Hence, India had to pursue economic growth with distributive justice. growth with distributive justice.