Millions of people all over the world have subscribed to the ideology of Communism not by reading the doctrines of Karl Marx and Engels but by observing the developments took place in two of the world’s largest economies, namely, the erstwhile Soviet Union and China, following that very doctrine and being primarily convinced that those development would ensure the establishment of an egalitarian social order. It means that people follow a ideology or doctrine only when a radical and positive socio-economic-political changes occurred on the basis of its application. By corollary, if Bharat can bring about a positive change whereby she can uplift her teeming masses from the quagmire of abject penury and sordid misery and ensure the prosperity of the people at large followigng ‘ Integral Human ‘ philosophy as envisaged by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya people at large will get attracted by it, follow it and ultimately respect it. Personally I feel that the present government has announced and implemented some policies directed towards the growth and prosperity of our country. But it has not represented the matter in this way that, Bharat has been lagging behind other developed countries because of following British colonial system, Soviet model of mixed economy, thereafter open market economy & consumerism, pseudo-secularism etc. That’s why this system needs to be replaced by our own and indigenous system based on the ‘ Integral Human ‘ philosophy and we have adopted these policy decisions based on this very doctrine or ideology. Consequently, people have been interpreting these policy decisions as the brainchild of the present government or a group of experts. And they aren’t being able to appreciate the fact that these policies are in accordance with the application of ‘Integral Human’ philosophy. In this respect I think the government should do the needful to highlight “Integral Human’ philosophy.
Secondly, still there are many prevalent systems which are detrimental to the implementation of ‘Integral Human’ philosophy. With my little knowledge I strongly advocate the cataclysmic change of some of these systems which have become embedded in our socio-political fabric. Let me try to briefly elucidate some of these changes :-
EDUCATION
At present in Bharat, there are govt mid-day meal schools , govt English medium schools, private English medium schools run by missionaries, privately managed expensive public schools and schools run by religious institutions, trusts and specially madrassas.
This heterogeneous education system cannot promote unity among our future citizens. Almost all of those studying in expensive English medium schools view the less fortunate pupils studying in Government sponsored mid-day meal schools in much the same way as the fair-skinned British looked down upon the dark-skinned natives. This system itself is promoting social discrimination among the people instead of mitigating the same. Secondly, success in competitive exams depends on of expensive coaching which the poor but meritorious students cannot afford. This is the limitation of British education system in Indian background. Coaching centres are modernized gurukul system. Leaving the education system in the hands of business community is opposed to the ethos of ‘Integral Human’ philosophy.Reckoning all these factors, there should be a uniform education system imparted through boarding schools ( separate for boys and girls) where pupils from all classes- from poor to affluent, so called higher castes and lower castes, literate and illiterate will read,play,eat together and get the same facilities which will foster among them the spirit of the holy chants of Upanishads, ” Sangachchhhadhwang Sangvadadhwang sang bo manangsi jaanataam” that means” Let’s move together, let’s talk the same and let’s build our minds in the same manner.”
VERNACULAR POLICY
Even after several decades of independence, due to mutual antagonism among various linguistics groups on the issue of Arya- Dravida, Hindi and regional languages we couldn’t declare any single Bharatiya language as our official language. And having reap the benefits of this situation English occupied the supreme position. Education should be provided to students through their respective mothertounge and from class nine to twelve Non- Hindispeaking students should learn Hindi and Hindispeaking students should learn any language of South Bharat. This can bring about a durable solution to the language problem and people will have no problem with Hindi.
HEALTH
In a country of 135 crores health services provided by government are inadequate. Health insurance can scarcely be a remedy. This is because of the numerous conditions and excuses the patient faces to avail the benefits of insurance and insurance policies don’t cover every type of disease. In cases where chronic patients need to consume lot of medicines and go through periodic costly pathological tests staying home will not get insurance benefit.Entrusting the health services to the business community ( private sector) is against the ethics of the ‘ Integral Human’ philosophy. Therefore, simultaneously with free medical services to the people below the poverty line, there should be ‘ no profit no loss’ or minimum profit based state run hospitals for serving the people.Secondly, like the “Navaratna” companies ( which are the pride of Bharat) a public sector unit needs to be set up for manufacturing medicines and medical equipments. People will gladly accept this proposal as they will no longer be exploited by private pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and nursing homes.
ADMINISTRATION AND JUDICIARY
Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy in his brilliant treatise ” India Before And After Mutiny” lucidly explained how the then indigenous administration including Panchayat system prevailing in most of the princely states was in no way inferior to the British Presidency’s Governor General-administered collectorate dependent on the civil servants. Yet we have been maintaining the colonial bureaucratic system at a huge expenses out of govt treasury despite of giving top most priority to the Local Govt ( three tier Panchayat Raj and Municipal Corporation.) Actually, the elected public representatives have the last say in administrative matters and civil servants are mute spectators.Secondly, most of the disputes were solved by arbitration of Panchayat. The existing Judiciary set up by the British is burdened with a huge backlog of cases as most disputes take a huge time to be solved and generations pass by before thedispute is settled. Appointment of several judges and other consequential expenses is a luxury for a country like Bharat. Bharat with a huge heterogeneous population cannot possibly do with a judicial system suitable for European countries with a small homogeneous population. Fixing up the educational qualification for different kind of public representatives; providing training for imparting administrative and arbitration skills for themselves; considering them as two in one, i.e public representatives as well as officials so that in case of corruption, misfeasance etc. they can not pass the buck to the officials; for this they should be paid proper remuneration; arbitration should take place in camera so that political coercion can’t function – In this way the bureaucratic set up can be replaced educated and effective public representatives. As a result a huge governmental expenditure can be curtailed. Only the most indispensable part of bureaucracy at the highest level needs to be retained. This will reduce the unnecessary pressure on the judiciary also.
If at least two generations will go through such radically changed positive environment , people would definitely feel a sense of belongingness to this new system and get attracted to and ultimately love & respect that doctrine or philosophy, i.e “Integral Human’philosophy which is at the root of all such changes. Even if there is a change in the political party in power , which by the way is very natural in a democracy, the basic ethos and principle determining the policies of the government will not change. Because, people belonging to various political parties will be the product of an environment guided by this doctrine. The future generations will automatically refine this system according to the call of the time keeping up with the “Integral Human’ philosophy which is universal and timeless. If it does not happen, only superficial changes in the government will take place. There will be no long term reformation in the mindset of our countrymen.
Subrata Bhowmick
Chartered Accountant