Pandit Nehru’s Thoughts on Socialism

          Pandit Nehru’s Thoughts on Socialism

                                                                                               Paper Presented by

                                                                                             Dr.Shubhangi Rathi

                                                                                              (H.O.D. Political Science)

                                                                                  Smt.P.K. Kotecha Mahila Maha.Bhusawal

Introduction:

Jawaharlal Nehru was an Indian statesman who was the first prime minister of India, from 1947 until 1964. One of the leading figures in the Indian independence movement, Nehru was elected by the Congress Party to assume office as independent India's first Prime Minister, and re-elected when the Congress Party won India's first general election in 1952. As one of the founders of the Non-aligned Movement, he was also an important figure in the international politics of the post-war era. The son of a wealthy Indian barrister and politician, Motilal Nehru, Nehru became a leader of the left wing of the Congress Party when still fairly young. Rising to become Congress President, under the mentorship of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru was a charismatic and radical leader, advocating complete independence from the British Empire. In the long struggle for Indian independence, in which he was a key player, Nehru was eventually recognized as Gandhi's political heir. Throughout his life, Nehru was also an advocate for Fabian socialism and the public sector as the means by which long-standing challenges of economic development could be addressed by poorer nations. In this paper focus on Pandit Nehru’s thought on socialism.

Importance of Socialism:

           Socialism, whose essence is the removal of poverty and establishment of equal opportunities if not of equality in the strictest sense, has necessarily to suit the conditions of each country, and Nehru’s constant effort was to bring about changes without destroying the fabric of Indian society, even if certain parts of that fabric were to be replaced.

As a corollary to democracy, Nehru believed in peaceful methods. The methods of democracy are discussion, argument and persuasion. He rejected the idea of class war. Peaceful methods were the only methods to initiate any change, be it economic or otherwise. Nehru deplored violence and demonstration. He was in favour of consent and compromise and not conflict. In this respect Nehru’s socialism differed from totalitarian socialism. He said that Socialism is not only a way of life, but a certain scientific approach to social and economic problems.

Our aim and our problems were succinctly summed up when Jawaharlal Nehru said:

Socialism is the inevitable outcome of democracy. Political democracy has no meaning if it does not embrace economic democracy. And economic democracy is nothing but socialism. Monopoly is the enemy of socialism. To that extent it has grown during the last few years, we have drifted away from the goal of socialism.

This line of thinking was revealed in the Avadi resolution of the Congress. Nehru’s plan of an economy on a socialistic pattern of society was passed in the Congress on August 14/15, 1957. The idea of “Wipe every tear from every eye”, is the main message of the Avadi Congress. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and the dignity of the individual was the base of building national unity, the philosophy of humanism which promoted the emergence of a new India, a modern India. And it is Jawaharlal Nehru who tried to build a modern India free from feudalism, to a socialistic pattern of society.

Democratic Socialism:

Nehru was brought up and received, his schooling under democratic traditions. He was a champion of freedom. Not only he took a leading part in Indian freedom struggle, he was an opponent of colonialism. Nehru’s love of individual liberty was a part of his western heritage. He detested Nazism and Fascism, because they indulged in physical acts of aggression, brutality and vulgarity. Similarly, the dictatorial ways of the communists, their aggressive methods and into­ clearance of any opposition were resented by him. Hence he wants for democratic socialism, which will be based on political liberty, equality and tolerance. Under democratic socialism we could maintain individual freedom and initiative with centralized-social control and planning of the economic life of the people.

Importance of Planning:

The Soviet Union made tremendous progress under economic planning. Once India achieved political freedom, Nehru visualised that it must be followed by economic freedom. Nehru had drawn inspiration from the Soviet experience and believed that rapid economic growth of India was possible only through economic planning. Planning was necessary to strike a balance between a numbers of competing objectives. Planning was also essential to essential to increase national income and the equitable distribution of the same.

Planning was necessary to cover not only industry and agriculture, but also other sectors. National independence depended on a strong industrial base. Besides, there should be a strong regulating mechanism in the form of planning. Planning is formulated and executed by as soon as centralized authority, but in India planning was to be formulated within a democratic setup. According to Nehru, economic planning was a scientific technique rather than an ideological procedure

Mixed Economy:

Nehru was fully aware of the inherent defects of capitalism— its acquisitiveness, rapaciousness and violence. He was also against the re­gimentation and intolerance of totalitarian socialism. Hence he wanted to follow a middle path. He evolved a system of mixed economy as an alternative to both the rival systems, drawing the positive aspects of each and rejecting their negative aspects. It would be a combination of free private enterprise and state controlled economy.

The Industrial Policy of 1948 spelt the nature of role of the private sector. But industrialization through the private sector might lead to concentration of wealth and economic power. Besides, private enterprise may not flow into certain sectors. Hence Nehru favoured a positive role for the private sector, which culled for effective State regulation and control. The basic heavy and defence industries would be in the public sector. Large-scale industries which needed huge capital investment would also be in the public sector. Nationalization was advocated to gain state control over key industries. But nationalization was not to be followed blindly. Nationalization could not remedy all the economic ills. Nationalization was not synonymous with socialism.

Important role of Industrialization:

In Nehru's socialist pattern, industrialization plays an important role. A strong industrial base was vital for the rapid economic develop­ment of India Hence it was necessary to develop heavy industries such as steel, cement, machine tools, heavy electrical, etc. India possessed vast natural and manpower resources. India’s economic development was dependent on a development strategy of modern industrialization. India’s First Five Year Plan consequently emphasized on industry.

But Nehru was not opposed to agriculture either. Industry was to produce collateral advantages in agriculture. Agricultural production was to be raised through mechanization. Similarly in his programme of economic reconstruction, he provided an important place to rural and cottage industries and Khadi. Nehru never believed that socialism was equivalent to accentuation of production only through heavy industries. The Industrial Policy Resolutions of 1948 and 1956 amply demonstrate Nehru's commitment to develop large as well as small industries simultaneously. Nehru's faith in the development of cottage industries and Khadi demonstrates the Gandhian orientation of his socialist ideas.

Nehru realized that "for keeping balance in the economy, self-sufficiency was to be promoted and for that as well as for the provision of work and employment village and cottage industries are of paramount importance. Thus, there is not much truth in the allegation that Nehru wanted to promote only heavy and large-scale industries.

Agricultural problems & Reforms:

The land problem in India had been a dominant issue during the 19th century. During the National movement also the agrarian problems drew the attention of the politicians. The prevalent land tenure systems in India led to exploitation, insecurity of tenancy rights, poverty, vast army of landless labourers, sub-division and fragmentation of Holdings and intermediaries between the State and the peasants. Nehru came into close contact with the agrarian upheaval in the United Provinces in 1920-21. In his Presidential address at the Lahore Congress session m 1929, Nehru said "Real relief can only come by a great change in the Land Laws and the present system of Land Tenure." In 1936 during the Lucknow Congress session, Nehru suggested to draw an agrarian programme to meet the land problem.

After independence, under the active leadership of Nehru, Zamindari System was abolished. Legislations were enacted for consolidation of holdings, ceilings on landholdings, fixity of rent and redistribution of surplus land to the landless. These land reform measures reflect Nehru’s own perception of socialism as well. In January, 1959 at Nagpur A.I.C.C. Session. Nehru insisted on co-operative joint farming, State trading in food grains and labour co-operatives.

However, in spite of several constraints relating to the implementation of the land reform measures, the land reforms were enforced peacefully through non-violent means. Nehru believed in constitutional means. He was against any revolutionary process in dealing with the agrarian problem.

Science and Technology:

Science and technology played a crucial role in the economic deve­lopment of the western countries. It played a still greater role in the rapid economic transformation of the Soviet Union. Hence in an under­developed country like India it was essential to build a technologically mature society. Immediately after Independence, Nehru observed "it is science alone that can solve the problem of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy, of vast resources running to waste, of a rich country inhabited by starving people. Who indeed could afford to ignore science today? At every turn we have to seek its aid—the future belongs to science and those who make friends with science."

To develop a strong research and scientific base, several national scientific organisations were set up. The expenditure on research and development in the country also went on rising. The declaration of Scientific Policy Resolution ( SPR ) in 1958 was inspired by Nehru.

Nehru observed that socialism was the inevitable consequence of a civilization based on science. He could not conceive of a socialist society in the absence of technological growth.

 Conclusion:

Lastly conclude that due to privatization the poorer became poorer & richer become richer. It’s resulted into inequality of the income in the economy. The poorness of the weaker section resulted into per capita income. So to overcome the problem now a day of social justice is needed. The social justice can be obtained only through the concept of socialism. So Pandit Nehru adopted the concept of socialism for development of the nation. The relevance of Jawaharlal Nehru remains undiminished today. In fact, his ideas and approach to political, economic and social issues are more relevant now than even in his life-time.

References:

1.      Jawaharlal Nehru, An Autobiography, The Bodley Head, London, 1953,

2.      Jawaharlal Nehru, Eighteen Months in India, Kitabistan, Allahabad and London, 1938, 

3.      Jawaharlal Nehru, The Unity of India, Lindsay Drummond Ltd., 1948,

4.      S. Gopal (ed.), Jawaharlal Nehru - An Anthology Oxford University Press, 1983,

5.      B.R. Nanda (ed.), India’s Foreign Policy - The Nehru Years, Vikas, New Delhi, 1976,

6.      Jawaharlal Nehru - The Discovery of India, Signet Press, Calcutta, 1947,

7.      Quoted in A Centenary History of the Indian National Congress, B.N. Pande (ed.), AICC (I) and Vikas Publishers, Delhi, p. 816.