Communism In India: The End of An Era?

Communism is a system in which every citizen contributes to the society according to his or her ability and receives the means of life according to his or her needs. It thrives on equitable material returns for labour and aims at ultimately creating a moneyless, classless social order.

India has had a deep-rooted connection with Communism, dating back to the 1920s, when the Communist party of India was founded as an alternative mass movement to the Congress. It was seen as a logical culmination of the simmering discontent against both the Indian and the British propertied classes, but nevertheless, could not stand a chance at winning the elections against the mighty Congress. It was only fitting that India, which was founded on Socialist principles as laid down in its Constitution, got to have a Communist opposition in the early years of the post- independence era, to ensure the checks and balances which are indispensable parts of any democracy. But, whether or not it justified, this explanation remains a subjective issue.

Communism, by and large has had a limited spread in India and this issue deserves an objective analysis. In the first place, Communism in its unadulterated form as propounded by Marx, was supposed to be a result of class struggle. In India, where the caste and religion based loyalties are stronger than the ‘elite-proletariat divide’, the motivation for a revolution does not really exist. Also, Communism has not been able to project a united front to the people of India as Communist parties largely remain divided over ideological issues.

In spite of their limited presence, the commendable work done by Communist parties in the states where they have formed governments is worth mentioning. In this regard, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh serve as an important point of reference. Kerala is a state with a strong influence of Marxist ideology which reflects clearly in its political culture. Official government records say that Kerala and West Bengal were the only two states which passed effective land reform measures, thus benefiting millions of people. At present, the agriculture labour movement is stronger and far more organized in Kerala vis-a-vis the other states. The fact that Kerala’s position is far ahead of any other state in terms of social indicators like literacy rate, infant mortality rate etc. points towards the deeply ingrained Communist ideology.

But, this still does not justify the need to have an economic model based on Communism. More so, due to the reason that whenever India has found itself in dire straits related to fiscal and monetary issues, it is the Capitalist method that has worked wonders for it (With reference to Liberalization reforms of 1991 and FDI in retail at present). Even China, which claimed to be a staunch follower of Communist ideology, had to liberalize its economy in the 1980s.

In a country as diverse as India, one of the reasons Communism failed to become popular could be the unwillingness of the leaders to change with time. Howsoever intriguing Marx’s theories may be, they are not completely feasible in their original form. The hardliner mentality of the Communist parties is also not appreciated by the middle class, which is often perceived as a game changer in Indian politics.

All said and done, Communism continues to be a force to reckon with in Indian politics and any eulogies written for it are indeed premature. It can act as a vital enabler for development on socialist lines provided it adapts with the changing times. The government on its part could experiment with new ideas from the Communist ideology to foster inclusive growth within the democratic framework. 

John Wooden’s famous lines, “Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out” could not have been more apt.

Power of VISION!!

Power of a vision

“The power of imagination, lies at the heart of creative process, and is the very substance of life, allies as it is to the power to attract to us what we most desire. This power makes all the difference between winners and losers.”

I, and I think everyone, would like to see in 10 years a literate and poverty free India. I dream of the India governed by noble leaders. I dream of a system where the work of the scientists and technologists is focused on specific missions driven by goals relevant to the common man. How is this dream to be made real?

We need to realise that missions are always bigger than organisations just as organisations are always bigger than the individuals who run them. Mission needs effort and mind provides the purpose. Seen this way, consider, which department or ministry will take man to Mars and build a habitat there? Can 2,00,000 MW of electric power be generated by isolated efforts in thermal, hydroelectric, nuclear and non-conventional sectors without an integrated effort? Can the Green Revolution happen again without agricultural scientists, bio-technologists and irrigation experts working together?

Vision is a power that arises from deep within you. This power is the basis for the movement towards excellence, we saw at the time of independence. Pre-independent India reverberated with it. It helped us humble a mighty empire.

J.N. Tata brought the steel industry to India even though the British rulers were not favourably disposed to the idea. We saw the birth of many great institutions like the Indian Institute of Science(IISc)-Banglore, started by J.N. Tata, The Banaras Hindu University(BHU) by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and Aligarh Muslim University set up by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. In all these cases, the motivation was to see India come up in the world…to demonstrate that “INDIA CAN DO IT!!!”

Are we in a position to continue that work, revive that spirit of enterprise? Shal we ever see cars designed and manufactured in India dotting the roads in Frankfurt or Seol? Or Indian hanations in orbit? Or see India build power stations for US, Japan or China? The possibilities will remain remote if we stay with the present trend of “LOW AIM.”

Why does India not manufacture and market the Main Battle tank, missiles and other defence equipments? We have the most important core competence in the form of our multifaceted manpower and basic infrastructure. What is that we don’t have?

Let us think what prevents us in undertaking such challenges. We have to analyse how we can give a new dimension to our style of functioning, by cutting across the individual interests of various ministries and even industries and institutions, to follow an integrated action plan. The motive force has to be love for the country. We need a vision that is shared by the entire nation.

All of us- institutions, political parties, industries, communities, families, individuals- at every level should take full responsibility for what is good or bad in our situation, for what we possess and that which we do not. This would mean that we stop blaming others for the circumstances we find ourselves in. Taking responsibiltiy also means a willingness too exercise our abilities to the fullest.

We must be aware of our higher self and view ourselves as citizens of a developed nation. We are a great civilisation and each one of us born here must trust in the wisdom of this civilisation. Our scriptures tell us that there is no barrier between us and the world, that we are the world just as the world is in us. It is for you to put yourself in the tune with the music of universe.

JAI HIND

Because Karl Marx Said So: India Needs Revolution

There has been an on-going creation of theoretical framework and ideological discussions on the historical relevance of human existence, both in revolutionary and evolution terms of social phenomena. Karl Marx gave the simplest frame of the society which is being carried out, knowingly or unknowingly even in the countries like India, where Marxian concept has its place beneath the walls.

It has been and will ever be the endurance of negotiating roles between the haves and the haves not. Marx’s words of wisdom, convincing enough to exemplify the ultimate Marxian concept suggesting that the needs which are material in every sense will eventually lead to the construction of production process, businesses ventures, hence practically declaring for even major establishments in future. Simplicity of material needs leading to the production process is nothing but humans working for their own survival, but with the helping hand of infrastructure and superstructure of society- Capital, Economy, Social Values and Culture. Ultimately, these structures affect each other in every minute way.

Ideology of Historical Materialism does differentiate between needs and wants, two opposite connotations yet can give birth and be the reason for the major expansion.

The fight of negotiating roles isn’t only the matter for the west, because Marx did his research on European countries yet it had a universal implication. Actuality of the working of Homo sapiens since decades has given rise to inevitability of Marx’s observation of class struggle and class structure. It is the historical tendency in all societies to divide themselves into two unequal social classes and hence these classes’ proceeds with social relationship based on uninterrupted fight between the contending classes in support of prevailing economic conditions and needs.

In Marxian terms, the two classes are essentially expounded as- the one on top-Bourgeoisand the oppressed ones, the labour- Proletariats. This portrays the two shades of society, one class thriving for money, material craving, status; class with economic count initiates the production process. On the contrary, one shade of the class indicates the frame who strives for mere survival, working and slogging for their own being. Ironically, both surviving with the help of each other with unequal reciprocation. It shows the distorted picture of society in every sense. And this brings up a question and the base for the discussion- In a society so rich, how could so many be poor?

It was in the era of 19thcentury; Marx observed the societal paradigm shift. Marx gave a special importance to conflict, which is even psychological driven. He saw the continuance of commercial crisis and economic contradictions in the form class struggle in Germany, Belgium and France. Following the historical trend and glancing at current scenario, the oppressed will always emerge out with loud voice for radical change but due to Feudal restrictions, sticking to contemporary term- political leaders put restrictions on the civil society, unconsciously with different issues repeating the history itself.

In India the situation is prevailing more in terms of Congress vs. Indian Citizens. The difference is only that the economic and political crisis has become synonym of each other. Capitalist is based on exchange system yet forgetting the value added by the labour class, and exploiting them for being oppressed. Demon and corruption had a different meaning attached to it yet aiming toward same goal.

In the country like India, capitalist system exists in the form of disguised picture of socialist system. A social structure where in the democracy market is formed on global terms, democratic lift in economy, where the objective reality lies among political leaders, constitution along with the help of developed counties manipulating and negotiating with the value addition efforts by third world countries, economic-literacy deprived countries by cheap labour, assistance, space and infrastructure in the name hypocritical promise of return. Here domestic relations blindly follow the fetishism in an absolute form.

It is not the economy in today’s time but socio-political civil society, and cold war between the leaders for invested interests controlling and predicting every action of future for the people and named it rather by the people. In this belief, actors exploit yet diplomatically harmonize the class who are entirely responsible for the creation of their existence and living. To some extent in non-cynical terms, leap of betterment has been there but on contrary the illusionary clarity fades away with the equal and quite visible factuality of a belief system carried out only in theory but the literal actions are only controlled by the people sitting with power.

On contemporary terms, the current crisis has pretty much proven that Marx’s was correct when he explained birth of periodical cyclical crisis which rejects the idea of abolishment of class society even after the consciousness emergence and ultimate revolution oppressed class.

It has been in the past, may well be in the future, globalisation making world as one village , multinational culture and development towards better and higher economy , controlled by the leaders in the power.

Capitalist interest in countries like India is managed by political, secular yet religious thinking without shackling the socialist system, creativity at its peak. Nonetheless, the crudest way of defining society is believed to be ideally defined by Marx, there are his followers, not pessimist in nature; after all we do live in class based society.

Louder, stronger and rigid consciousness has to take its place. It is a road to heaven, giving heaven a chance and not backing off until it secures its position. This country needs a revolution. Anna Hazare retaliation may have made an example of raising voice, keeping apart his take on political ground. He and many others can be called as followers of Marxism because they have been exploited and abused, they will speak out and attain a society of not poor and rich but well-being based on equity. Marx’s belief lied not in an absolute utopian society, and not an ultimate ideal state but a classless state emerging after class oriented society; it calls for a revolution and leap of a million feet high.