HVK Archives: LOKMANYA TILAK AND AMARTYA SEN
LOKMANYA TILAK AND AMARTYA SEN - HINDU VIVEK KENDRA
MILIND GADGIL
()
December 03, 1998
Title: LOKMANYA TILAK AND AMARTYA SEN
Author: MILIND GADGIL
Publication: HINDU VIVEK KENDRA
Date: December 03, 1998
The Nobel prize awarded to economist Dr. Amartya Sen has inevitably
become a topic of animated debate and discussion in this country,
more so perhaps because Dr. Sen is known for Leftist orientation in
his economic thinking. His two theories which are cited in the award
are: occurrence of famines is caused more by shortfall in the
purchasing power of the people rather than by shortfall in food
production and investment in social projects and objectives
should have important place in economic development. Social
projects concern fields like health, education, etc. These very
ideas were projected by Lokmanya Tilak 106 years ago in his
editorials in "Kesari". According to the so-called progressive thinkers,
Tilak was `rightist' in his economic thinking and pro-Hindutva in his
political outlook, Tilak's editorials however emphatically reveal
that he was a farsighted economic thinker, political, down-to-earth
and at the same time a humane and compassionate thinker.
The editorials are dated 6th December and 13th December 1892. The
heading of the editorial which originally of course is in Marathi is
"Are farmers being forced to rebel?" Tilak writes, "It is indeed a
very difficult situation where food production is not sufficient to
meet the minimum needs of the people and this shortfall is combined
with inability to produce and sell industrial products abroad
to earn enough exchange to buy foodgrains from Foreign countries.
He further writes "It is not that there is no destitution in other
countries but rarely there is a country where poverty is so
widespread almost throughout the length and breadth of the country as
it is in India. If population keeps on expanding at the current rate,
how long it will be able to draw sustenance form the soil with
fertility diminishing by excessive use?"
In his editorial of 7th December 1892 under the heading "Measures
suggested by the farmers commission," Tilak writes "whatever the
extent of the knowledge the farmer acquires because of the spread of
the primary education, to train him up in the ways of augmenting his
harvest is the responsibility of the government. There won't be
much difficulty once he is shown the way".
In his editorial on "the ways to avert famine" (25th May 1891) The
Lokmanya writes. "We should be humane and compassionate while
determining the quantum of labour to be extracted from the famished
and emaciated famine-stricken workers, The penalties imposed on
workers for not completing the allotted work represent the bitter and
unpleasant aspects of the present system."
In an editorial "Cheers for the Queen's Government (1st June 1897
with a subtitle "expansion of British power,), Tilak states, "It is
true that Railways and telegraph enrich the country. But which
country.? The country which manufactures its own trains. Take
the instance of Japan. Japan is a free country. The developments
and improvements initiated in that country are meant for the
comfort and happiness of the Japanese people. In India,
population is expanding fast. Traditional industries and
craftsmanship are almost eclipsed. What production we have today
is negligible and below par. In the sphere of military and
professional training, we are a big Zero. People's health and education
are neglected. In short, this country which had some activity and
dynamism a hundred years ago is now stagnant and listless, and is
wallowing in poverty",
There are many such references in, Tilak's writings which it
is not possible to reproduce here for obvious reasons of
space. But it is clear that the Lokmanya was unambiguously
recommending investment in social fields. On 25th May 1897. Tilak wrote
an editorial on "methods to ward off famines" This was before his
editorial "causes of Famines" (8th May 1900). We have discussed
them in the foregoing paras. Tilak had arithmetically illustrated
that the Government gave to the famine relief workers lesser quality of
rationed food than what was given to RI prisoners
In "The causes of famine', Tilak says; "We do not want to dispute
that famines are caused by drought, insufficient rain. The
question is why the we are not able to fight the famines with
the buffer reserves built when the going was good. We are often told
that the advanced countries of Europe will never face famine. This
means that even if a region there was to face famine conditions, it
would have enough resources to buy costly foodgrains from other
places. This is possible because there the farmer is rich enough to
fight and overcome famine.
"The surplus which will accrue if government spending is reduced can be
used to offset the reduction in farm revenue receipts in the days of
famine. Local trade and Industries should be encouraged to expand with
Liberal incentives. Unless this happens, there is every likelihood that
the famine-stricken ryots will lose control on famine relief work.
`Compared to England, India's population is lower by 225 per
thousand and as compared to Europe it is lower by 75 per thousand
This means population in England and Europe is growing at a faster
rate than in India. Then why crores of people here are subjected to
starvation.? WE need an explanation for this contradiction.
While explaining how England was economically exploiting India and
draining off its wealth, Tilak also advises farmer to conserve soil
and increase its yield and to use rain waters with adequate planning.
Tilak wrote for common readers and did not flaunt economic parlance.
But his economic thinking was farsighted. Amartya Sen's thinking
which brought him the Nobel laurel is along the lines of views
expressed from time to time by the Lokmanya. It is indeed
intriguing that Amartya Sen's writings remind us of Tilak's
editorials, Tilak's entire gamut of economic writing deserves
close study, Some day we intend to undertake such a study.
Article from Mumbai: Tarun Bharat 15 Nov, 98
Back
Top
|
