Annihilation of Caste - 2

 

Critique on Socialism as a Solution

Baba Saheb was very suspicious of the vogue of the time that had taken half of the world by a storm. He understood that the socialist framework was not addressing the real question. Every socialist worth his salt would try to convince him that man in the end is an economic creature and that economics alone is the motive that would drive him and that property is the main source of power & inequality. So the equalization of property is the only panacea and that must precede any other types of reform in India. But Baba Saheb was not convinced. In fact he brought the most pertinent question ahead of the socialists. How are the socialists guaranteeing social equality once even hypothetically the economic problem is resolved. If the social problem is unaddressed, then will it not lead to same status of the depressed class as was the case earlier. In this case who will gain from a revolution? Will it be the people who have been discriminated against? If not then, what would motivate the constituents of a movement to inspire themselves for a revolution? The problem in India is unique and has to be dealt with unique solutions suited to Indian conditions. It is not enough to carry an ideal if the practical solution is not in vision.

He makes his suspicion of the socialists explicit:

“Let me analyse the factors that are involved in the realization of Socialism, in order to explain fully my point. Now it is obvious that the economic reform contemplated by the Socialists cannot come about unless there is a revolution resulting in the seizure of power. That seizure of power must be by a proletariat. The first question I ask is: Will the proletariat of India combine to bring about this revolution? What will move men to such an action? It seems to me that, other things being equal, the only thing that will move one man to take such an action is the feeling that other men with whom he is acting are actuated by a feeling of equality and fraternity and—above all—of justice. Men will not join in a revolution for the equalization of property unless they know that after the revolution is achieved they will be treated equally, and that there will be no discrimination of caste and creed. “[i]

He is not prepared to have the assurance of the socialists which as previously seen had a half convincing ideology in Indian context.

“The assurance of a Socialist leading the revolution that he does not believe in Caste, I am sure will not suffice. The assurance must be the assurance proceeding from a much deeper foundation—namely, the mental attitude of the compatriots towards one another in their spirit of personal equality and fraternity. Can it be said that the proletariat of India, poor as it is, recognises no distinctions except that of the rich and the poor? Can it be said that the poor in India recognize no such distinctions of caste or creed, high or low? If the fact is that they do, what unity of front can be expected from such a proletariat in its action against the rich? How can there be a revolution if the proletariat cannot present a united front?”[ii]

And even if they manage to achieve their goal of revolution it will not lead to any change in the social order. He mentions the inevitability of social reform as a precursor to any political reform. He writes:

“Suppose for the sake of argument that by some freak of fortune a revolution does take place and the Socialists come into power; will they not have to deal with the problems created by the particular social order prevalent in India? I can't see how a Socialist State in India can function for a second without having to grapple with the problems created by the prejudices which make Indian people observe the distinctions of high and low, clean and unclean. If Socialists are not to be content with the mouthing of fine phrases, if the Socialists wish to make Socialism a definite reality, then they must recognize that the problem of social reform is fundamental, and that for them there is no escape from it”[iii]

Would we not consider his apprehensions as prescient? India followed a socialist model for first 45 years after independence. Did it solve the issue of caste or did it contribute in exacerbating it? Even after years of socialist experiment, the disadvantaged sections of society, were still demanding their way out of the social order. Surely, we can say convincingly, that the constriction of economic pie, which was a direct result of socialism of first 45 years of post-independence economic history was responsible for even more caste issues coming to the fore than it ever would have happened in the absence of it.

[i] Pg 232

[ii] Pg 232

[iii] Pg 232

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