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ImpossibilityofanIndianIlliberalorwhyModiisn'ttheDevilpart1
Indiaisalargecountrywithnumerousdifferentlanguages,textualtraditionsandpoliticalideologies
someofveryancientderivation.IfLiberalismisunderstoodtobedefinedby
1)FreedomofconscienceinmattersofReligion
2)ValorisationofFreeEnterpriseandthelegitimacyofprivateownershipofWealthwheresuch
Wealthhasbeenaccumulatedbyindividualeffort
3)Theprincipleofnonaggressioni.e.nocoercioninmattersinvolvingeitherprivatechoiceorpublic
policydebatethen,IndianLiberalismcanbeshowntohavesoundtextualsupportinthesocalled'Axial
Age'i.e.800200B.C.duringtheperiodwhenNorthIndiawasmovingfromTribalRepublicsto
Imperialisticdynasties.
Asamatteroffact,nottheory,Indiabeingalargecountryhasalwaysdisplayed'Tiebout
model'competitioni.e.local'stationarybandits'providingamoreLiberalPublicGoodmixattractCapital
andEnterprisewhilelessLiberalormoreintensivelyrentseekingregimesloseoutorarecompelledto
launchruinousmilitaryaction.
AclassicexampleofthisisthemigrationofNativeCapitalawayfromthePeshwaterritorytothat
controlledbyJohnCompanyinthelateEighteenthCentury.Interestingly,thoughtheBrahminical
Peshwa'spossessedlegitimacyandmoralhegemony,neverthelessHindutradersobeyedthelogicof
themarketdespitethemselvesholdingtoCasteistorthopraxyintheirprivatelife.MahatmaGandhi,who
camefromthemercantile'Banya'caste,oftenreferredtothephenomenonofhisowncaste'sfinancing
India'senslavement.However,duringthecourseoftheNapoleonicWars,NativeCapitalwasfrozenout
ofthefinancingofBritishexpansionandrelegatedtoacompradorandincreasinglysubalternrole.
QuiteapartfromMilitaryexigencies,becauseofEliteRentContestationscostsandthecoalition
instabilityofwhat,followingMortonFriedandElmorService,wemightsignifyastribeandcaste,
Empirestendtohavehigherrentseekingandsohaveashorterhalflife(moreespeciallyasIndiais
morelikeaZomiathana'NowheretoEscape'stripoffertility)whilemercantileguildsaswellas
occupationalsubgroupsevolvemethodstogainacountervailingpoweroverthe'StationaryBandit'of
theState.MuchofthecomplexityofcasteandGuildbaseddeonticsbecomestransparentinthislight
andthishasalwaysbeenunderstoodbytheIndianadministrativeclassor'writercaste'.
InterestinglyinthelightofAmartya'sSen'srecentattempttodrawadistinctionbetween'Nyaya'
Substantivistand'Niti'ProceduralorRelationistTheoriesofJusticetheIndianwritercastes,fromthe
earliestperiodofwhichwehaveevidence,subscribeneithertoa'Conflicttheory'oran'Ideal'type
'ContractariantheoryregardingtheoriginofStatewhichtheyserved.Onthecontrary,thoughthereis
anequationbetweentheRainCycleandwhattheChinesemightcallthe'MandateofHeaven',this
merelyrelatestoonetypeofStateOfficethatoftheBrahmin'Purohit',orChiefPriest,whohasevery
incentivetolimittheefficacyoftheritualshehimselfcarriesoutbyproclaimingsomethingelse
supremeviz.themysteriousforceofcausation,karma,which,however,issusceptibletoallsortsof
cleverevenwhatwemaycallMohTzuisttechnocraticfixesor(moreoften)Kautilianchrematistic
ploys,suchthatthetoposofhumanexistencealwayspreservesthequalityofbeing'apurva'new,
novel,notpredeterminedyetthoughthearrowofprarabhdakarmaisalreadyspeedingonitsflight..
Thisisbecause,byapolitefiction,belovedoftheauthorsofInd'sEpicsandtheLoneRangercomics
anarrowinflightcanalwaysbedivertedbysomequickdrawartistwhoonlygallopsoffintotheSunset
aftertellinguskiddiestolikeeatourveggiesalreadyandstraightenupandflyright.
LordBuddha,itmustbesaid,wentonebetter.HisisaonemomentUniversesothougheverything
thatisbuttheinstantiationofCausality,Pathdependence,Hysteresisyeteverythingthatisisalso
Ergodic,Economic,entirelyIntentionalandIntensionalbecauseKalaTimeisitselfsubjecttothat
'Chakra'orWheelwhichisturnedonlybythattrueChakravartin,theSakyaMuni'scompassionate,
albeit'manyfingered'hand.
ItmaybearguedthatevidencefromBuddhistscripturesforthisviewisnotgermanesinceBuddhism
virtuallydiedoutinIndiatillitsrevivalintheTwentiethCenturyby,mostnotably,Dr.Ambedkar.
However,achapterintheMahabharata(anepicwhichhascurrencyinallpartsofIndia)called
the'VyadhaGita'(Butcher'sGita)carriessacredstatusforHindus.Init,welearnthattheMeatvendor,
whohasacquiredwealthfromhislargeandwellrunbusiness,thoughnotofanyexalted'caste'or
lineage,neverthelesshasattainedthegreatestpossiblefelicity.ThesecretsoftheUpanishadsarean
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openbooktohim.WithoutbeingversedintheVedas,heyethasextractedtheiressence.Hecares
nothingforwhatKingsandPrincesgetupto.NordoeshegiveajotforthestricturesofthePriestsand
HolyMen.Instead,heworshipshisownparentsashisGodsi.e.hedevoteshimselftotheirservice
andenjoysallthegoodthingsoftheEarthwhileyetbeingpossessedofthatHigherKnowledgewhichis
Gnosis.TheVyadhaGitaismuchlesswellknownthanitscompaniontheBhagvadGita.However,the
VyadhawasrevealedsothatKingYuddhishtra's'vishada'(depression)couldberemovednotice,the
KingwasnotanAgentbutaPrincipal.HealsohastolearnstatisticalGametheory(whichhedoes
throughthestoryofNala)inordertoruleasaJustKing.Bycontrast,Arjuna'svishadaisthatof,nota
PrincipalbutanAgentmerelyHeisinthestrangepositionwhereifhedoeshisdutyasayounger
brother,hewillendupkillinghistrueeldestbrother!Yet,itisthewishofhistrueeldestbrother(Karna)
thatheperformthatduty!Tocomplicatematters,thoughArjunaisadvisedbythegreatPhilosopher
KrishnaDevakiputra,whoisalsotheincarnationoftheSupremeLord,yet,Krishnahimselfhasgiven
hisvowtoactonlyasanAgentnotaPrincipal!.Inotherwords,theBhagvadGitaonlydealswiththe
deonticsoftheAgentnotthePrincipal.Liberalism,however,isaboutpeopleactingasPrincipals,not
Agents.ThusonlytheVyadhaGitaisrelevanttoIndianLiberalismand,indeed,customary(Vyavahara)
Law,whicheverywherehassupremacyoverRevealed(shruti)Lawthoughnodoubtthelatterhas
someprescriptiveforce,reflectsthisfactviz.thatwealthprivatelyacquiredbyFreeEnterprisecanbe
disposedofasthewillandpleasureofthepossessordictatesprovidedhiscompetenceisnotimpaired.
Thisfreedomtodisposeofpropertyparallelstheindividual'sfreedomtochoosehisown'ishtadevata'
(DeityofChoice)andhisownGuruaswellastherighttodecidewhatsortofeducationandupbringing
hewishestogivehischildren.OnecorollaryofthiswasthatasmallsectionofIndianwomanhood,at
thisperiod,alsopossessedsimilareffectivelibertiesinthesensethattheywerebothsufficientlywell
educatedandhadsufficientselfgeneratedmeanstoeffectivelymakechoicesincludingchoiceof
Religion.ItisnotablethatboththemajorShramanReligionsBuddhismandJainism,gainednumerous,
wealthy,femaleadherentsrightfromtheirinception.Inthisrespect,IndianLiberalismoftheAxialAge
hadaprofoundinfluenceontheEuropeanRomanticmovement.Thesimplicityandsyntheticqualityof
Paninian(Classical)SanskritmadeiteasyforforeignersnotmerelytoreadIndiantextsbuttoacquirea
certainautocritaswithrespecttothisimaginary'Aryan'GoldenAgeofLiberalismsomuchatoddswith
thedrunkenmisgovernmentofsoontobeMediatizedPrincesandthebrutalJunkerjackbootsofthe
expansionaryPrussianReich.Asacaseinpoint,onemightmentionKarlKrause(founderof
Krausismo,whichwasveryinfluentialinSpanishandLatinAmericanLiberalcircles)whotaught
SchopenhaueralittleSanskrit.TheinfluenceofIndianandChinesetexts,transmittedthroughthe
Jesuits,onContinentalthoughtfedbackdirectlyintoPortuguesecoloniesinIndiaHenryDeroziowas
typicalofhis'caste'(thewordcomestoEnglshthroughPortuguese)andillustratesthemannerinwhich
IndianLiberalismisquiteindependentoftheaccidentofEnglishruleinIndia.Thisisnottosaythatall
Eurasianswere'Liberals'.AnthonyFirinngeebecameadevout'Baul'singer.Perhaps,trueIndian
Liberalism(likethatofTagore)arisesfromthecontinuingvernacularminstreltraditionratherthansome
CredentialistAcademicAvailabilityCascade.Inthissense,Dr.Ambedkar'slamentforIndianLiberalism
itdiedbeforeitlived,surrenderedbeforeitwaschallengedisnotmisplaced.
OneimportantreasonwhythevernaculartraditionchampionsLiberalideasfore.g.thesongsofKabir,
RaviDas,Miraetc.allcondemnpriestcraft(andthustheDivineRightofKings)whileshowinganeasy
(sahaja)pathtoLiberationequallyavailabletowomenand'lowcaste'peopleisbecauseSufiIslam
reinforcedandelaboratedthesefoundationalideasofIndianLiberalism.TheProphethadpraised
'Tijarat'(Commerce)andbothheterodoxsectsaswellasSunniclericswhoopposed'DivineRight'
AbsolutismfoundsupportfromtheMerchantsandProfessionals(Doctors,Scribes,etc)intheBazaar.
TheSufikhanqahshowedsomeresemblancetotheShramanMonasteryasdidtheDargahtothe
Stupa.InthesamewaythatBuddhistandHindupilgrimagepromotedCommerce,sotoodid
pilgrimagestoSufishrines.Interestingly,'DivineRight'hadbeenassertedinIndiabyEmperorAkbar
earlierthananythingsimilarhappenedinEnglandbutReligionprovedaneffectivecheckonthistypeof
AbsolutisminIndiathecountrycanboastnoArchbishopFilmerandthusthenineteenthcentury
IndianMuslim,readingMacaulay,couldcongratulatehimselfonthesuperiorrationalityofhisReligion
andthesecurerbasisthatitprovidedforLiberalideas.Indeed,onelessonfortheIndianreaderof
MacaulaywasthatBritishLiberalismowedmuchtothenewstrainsputonitsPolitybyitsoverseas
possessionsintheIndies.ThePittfamilyoweditspoliticalascenttoaninterloper,afterwardsGovernor
ofMadras,whoinvestedhisfortuneinRotterBoroughs.'Nabobs'ofthissorttookanindependentline
and,atonetime,appearedaforceforgood.However,Pitt'theGreatCommoner'turnedhiscoatsoon
enoughandtookapeerage.Henceforth,EnglishRadicalismwouldbehomegrownorrecruitedfromits
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CelticfringesaswasshownwhenthecomplaintsmadebyIndiancompradorsagainsttherapacityand
misgovernmentoftheEastIndiaCompanyfoundadvocatesofextraordinaryeloquencesuchasBurke
(whosaidthattheEastIndiaCompanywasaworsethreattoLibertythantheFrenchJacobins)and
Sheridan.BenthamandJamesMillalongwithanumberofotherjournalistsandbureaucratssoughtto
createaLegitimatingideologythatwouldcounterwhatBurkecalled'Indianism'andwhichAdamSmith
hadexposedasplutocraticsharppracticeposingasMercantilistcommonsense.Thiscreatedthegiant
AcademicavailabilityCascadeincreasinglyCredentializedbyanintellectuallybankruptHigher
EducationsystemwhichposesasLiberalisminIndianPublicDiscourse.TheattempttoturnIndian
LiberalismintoaPunditrysomethingwestillseeinthefringesoftheblogospherewasdoomedfrom
thestart.Yetthatattemptwilleverberepeatedbecauseagainstarrogance,stupidityandaspecificsort
ofAcademicignorance,theGodsthemselvesbattleinvain.

17571947:TheeffectofBritishliberalideas

[edit]

Asanexampleofsloppythinkingthefollowing,quotedfromWikipedia,isquiterepresentativeofthe
shallownessofIndiansemiacademic'Liberal'gibberish'ThestrengtheningofBritish
influenceinBengalwiththeBattleofPlasseyin1757coincidedwithsignificantdevelopmentsofthought
inEngland(JohnLockeinthe1680s,AdamSmithwithhismonumentalbookin1776,andEdmund
Burke)andintheUnitedStates(ThomasJefferson,JohnAdamsandAlexanderHamilton,among
others).TheEnglishlanguagecametoIndiain1603inAkbar'stimebuttherewasthennopressing
economicreasonforIndianpeopletolearnEnglish.ItwasonlyaftertheconsolidationofBengal
byRobertCliveandtheextensionoftheEastIndiaCompanyintotheIndianpoliticallandscape,thatthe
demandforlearningEnglishbegantogrow.By1835,Indianswerepayingseriousmoneytobetaught
English,asitgavethemjobopeningsintheCompany.AsThomasBabingtonMacaulaynotedinhis
famousMinute:thenativeshadbecomedesiroustobetaughtEnglishandwerenolongerdesirous
tobetaughtSanscritorArabic.Further,thosewhowishedto,seemedtopickedupEnglishverywell:"it
isunusualtofind,evenintheliterarycirclesoftheContinent,anyforeignerwhocanexpresshimselfin
EnglishwithsomuchfacilityandcorrectnessaswefindinmanyHindoos."(seetheMinuteat[1]).
'ThosewholearntEnglishquicklybecameawareofitsliterature,includingtherapidevolutionof
Westernpoliticalthought.Thisgreaterawarenessoftheadvancesinfreedomlaidtheseedsforthe
demandforselfrule.
'WhilepeoplelikeRajaRamMohanRoy(17721833)werebeginningtoarticulateelementsofthese
politicalarguments,noonewasinapositiontoexploreandarticulatenewinsights.Howevertheydid
catchupwithkeyliberalideasandbeganimplementingsomeoftheseadvancesthoughtthroughtheir
newdemandsforgreaterfreedominIndia.WhiletheWestwasfirmlyembeddingitsnewpolitical
institutions,orcontestingthegrowingforcesofsocialism(whichhadoverpoweredpartsof
thefeudalandaristocraticWest),theIndianintelligentsiawasgrapplingwiththechallengeofthefirst
majortaskaheadofit,namelyindependence.
'AswellasRajaRamMohanRoy,othercontributorstopoliticalthoughtonfreedomin19thcentury
IndiaincludedDadabhaiNaoroji(18251917),MahadeoGovindRanade(18421901),GopalKrishna
Gokhale(18661915)andPherozeshahMehta(18451915).Theoryledtoanindependence
movementinIndia.MahatmaGandhidemonstratedthroughahumane,nonviolent,anddignified
protest,thatallhumanswereequalandshouldbetreatedequally,includingtheirbeinggiventhe
opportunitytogovernthemselves.Thiswasamajoradvanceinthetheoryandpracticeoffreedomand
canbearguedtohavehadamajoreffectinendingtheageofimperialismandtheageofracial
discrimination.
'JawaharlalNehru,whowasverywelleducatedandfullyawareofthehistoryofliberalism,seemsto
havehadsurprisinglylittlefaithinanindividualsabilitytothinkandtakeresponsibilityforhimselfor
herself.Nehrudidnotemphasizetheimportanceofeachindividualundertakingselfreflectionand
choosingamongethicalalternatives.Possibly,inhisview,makingtheseethicalchoiceswastoodifficult
forthecommonman.Hedefinitelybelievedthatthesechoiceswerebestdirectedthroughstatelevel
dictateslaiddownbygoverningelites.Throughplanning.Inanyevent,heveeredtowardcollectivistand
socialistthinkingwheredecisionmakingpowerisconcentratedintheState.Decentralization,where
powerandfreedomvestswithpeopleatthelowestlevels,wasanathematoNehru.Hestatedinhis
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Autobiography,"socialismis...formenotmerelyaneconomicdoctrinewhichIfavouritisavitalcreed
whichIholdwithallmyheadandheart.'Indianindustrialists(withtheirBombayPlan)alsosidedwith
NehruonasocialistpatternbasedontheSovietFiveYearPlanmodel.
'Despitetheenvironmentinwhichsocialistthoughtwasflourishing,Indiawasfortunatetoenjoyatleast
afewlibertiesevenbeforeindependence.TheadvancesmadeinpoliticalinstitutionsinEnglandasa
resultofliberalismwereimportedandembeddedintoIndiaoverthedecadesbyBritishrulers.Things
liketherightofassemblyandprotestunderreasonablecircumstances,therighttoproperty,
andfreedomofexpressionwitharelativelyfreepress,becameapartandparcelofIndianpolitical
landscapebeforeindependence.'
Whyistheabovefoolish?Letusgothroughitpointbypoint
1)BritishdominanceinBengaldidnot'coincide'withanything.ItcreatedareactioninBritainand
AdamSmith'sgreatbookwas,inpart,acondemnationoftheEastIndiaCompanyanditscorrupt
practicesoneconsequenceofwhichwasthelossoftheAmericanColonies.
2)Itisnotnecessaryforapeopletolearnaparticularlanguagetobeinfluencedbybookswrittenin
thatlanguage.JapaneseLiberalismofthe1890'sdidnotarisebecauseJapanesepeoplestarted
readingEnglish.Translationscertainlyhelpedbuttheimpetuswasindigenouswholly.
3)RajaRamohanRoywasgoodatEnglishandexpressedsomewhatdogmaticBenthamiteideas,but
healsoknewPersianandArabicandSanskritandHebrew.NeitherhenorDwarkanathTagore,being
compradorswhosevehicletowealthandclasspowerwastheirassociationwiththeEastIndia
Company,wereassociatedinanywaywiththedemandforIndian'selfrule'.Onthecontrary,they
opposedthe'Orientalist'elementwithinJohnCompanyandalliedwiththeEvangelicalsand
OccidentalistsbecausetheywantedapurifiedHinduismbasedonDaraShikoh'sPersiantranslationof
theUpanishads.Theyfailed.EvenaftertheBritishCodifiedtheLawsandremovedtheCourtPundits
andMaulvis,theycontinuedtorulethecountrybasedoncustomaryLaweitherCodifiedoronthe
basisofstaredecisis.ThisinturnmeantthatSocialReformershadtogetinvolvedinPoliticalLobbying
andorAgitationsoasbringaboutneedfulchangesinthePersonalandTrustLawpertainingtotheir
Community.TheformationoftheIndianNationalCongressbyBritishbureaucratswasmeantto
facilitatethis.
However,bothindigenousandEuropeansponsoredLiberalismquicklycashedoutasanelitismofa
'Spiritual'type.RajaRamohanRoy'schiefclaimtofamewasasapolemicistusefultotheUnitarians.
His'BrahmoSamaj'hadtheeffectofelevatingcertainBrahminandKayasthasubcastes(those
previouslylearnedinPersianandthereforeopposedtoidolworshipbecauseofIslamicinfluence)as
morespirituallypureandthusthetrueinheritorsandproperhermeneutsofUpanishadicwisdom.
SimilarlyRanade,Tilak,GokhaleandtheServantsofIndiaadvancedtheinterestsofpreviously
dominantBrahminandMarathasubcastesbyreclothingthemwithaSpiritualaura.True,thisinvolved
anameliorationoftheconditionofsome(notall)'untouchable'jatislikeAmbedkarsMaharsbut
discardingCastePurityruleshadabiggerpayoffforhighcasteswhocouldthenenterhighly
remunerativeprofessionslikeMedicineandgoabroadtoqualifyasBarristersandsoforth.Itwasnot
onlyIndiansubcasteswhichsoughttouseasortofspiritualizedLiberalism(ofwhichSharadAnantrao
Joshihaswritteninachapterinthebook'MoralityandMarkets')toclaimahigherand'purer'identity
forthemselvesthroughmovementslikethePrarthanaandAryaSamajevenWesternerslikeMadam
Blavatsky(whowasRussian)andColonelOlcott(American)gotinontheact.Britishersinvolvedinthe
IndianNationalCongresstendedtosubscribetothebizarreSpiritualelitismoftheTheosophicalSociety
andhostsofupwardlymobileIndianlawyersandDoctorsandCivilServantseagerlyjumpedonthis
bandwagon.Interestingly,P.G.Woodhouse'selderbrotherwasagreatTheosophist,thoughitmustbe
said,notoneofitsmoreridiculousexponents.AnnieBeasantformerlyanAtheistandchampionofthe
Women'sTradeUnionMovementwasanoutstandingorganizerandpublicspeakerandunderher
leadershipTheosophyandIndianLiberalismbecamevirtuallysynonymous.MahatmaGandhi'sgreat
servicetotheNationwastoquietlyedgeheroffthestagebypointingoutthatsheworesilkrobes
whereashehimselfworenappiesmadeofpurehomespuncotton.Gandhialsohammeredthelastnail
intothecoffinofelitistLiberalismoftheServantsofIndiatypebypropoundinganEpistemologyof
absoluteSuspicion.Accordingtothisview,alllawyersweremoneygrubbingdevils,allDoctorsspread
diseasestoprofitthemselves,allCivilServantswereminionsofSatan,allIndustrialists(liketheone's
hetookmoneyfrom)wereinthegripofadangerousaddictionandtheonlycureforthemwastogo
andlookaftercowsinsomeremoteAshram.GandhialsofrustratedtheeffortsofthelastGladstonian
LiberalstosolvetheproblemofIndiabeforeitturnedintoanotherIrelandi.e.beforeitsuffereda
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bloodyvivisectionthoughitmustbesaidMotilalNehruandC.R.Daswerequitecapableofdoingthe
jobthemselves.
4)TheIndianIndependenceStruggle,nomatterinwhatformorwhereitmanifesteditselfhad
absolutelynothingtodowithEnglishspeakingIndiansandabsolutelyeverythingtodowithburgeoning
vernacularliterature.NotonesingleAnglophonefoughtinthe'SepoyMutiny'of1857.Thedemandto
expeltheforeignersandrestoreNativerulescaredthemtodeath.Theytendedtobecomemore'loyal'
and'Anglophile'overthenextfiftyyears,notlessso.However,thoseyoungIndianswhoshoweda
preferencefortheirownVernacularliterature(whichtheywererequiredtoknowinordertogetahead
professionally)soonfoundthemselvesradicalizedbecauseVernacularpoetryhasalwaysbeenprotest
poetryfoundeduponUniversalprinciples.Thus,thefirstyoungEnglishspeakingIndianswhoturned
againsttheBritishdidsobybecomingRevolutionariescloselyassociatedwith'Sadhus'(HolyMen)from
theVernaculartradition.Interestingly,someRevolutionarieswhoescapedtheBritishlike'Chatto'and
M.KRoyeventuallybecameCommunists,tillStalineitherkilledthemortheyranaway.
5)Englishspeakinglawyers,likeMotilalNehruandMohammadAliJinnah,gainedprofessional
advancementandpersonalprestigebyactingasadvocatesforIndianinterests.Atsomepoint,this
crossedoverintopersonalidentificationwiththatcause.Nothingtodowith'Liberalism'atall.
6)JawaharLalNehrudidn'twanttobeabarristersohisDadgavehimthejobofbeinghisPolitical
Secretary.Nehruhadanasceticstreak.OnmeetingtheMahatma,hewantedtogiveuphiswealthand
gotoserveGandhiinhisAshram.But,thiswastheappealoftheVernaculartraditionandhadnothing
todowithEuropeanLiberalism.MotilalNehrurefusedtolethissongiveuphiswealthonthegrounds
thatoneshouldalwaysbefinanciallyindependent,butdidnotopposehisson'semergenceaskey
lieutenantoftheMahatma.Lateron,Motilalsawthefutilityofhisownbrandofpoliticswhichconsisted
ofjoiningtheLegislativeCouncilonlysoastofrustrateitsworkingsoastodemonstratethatitwasa
shamandjoinedGandhiinhisjailcell.Afterhisfather'sdeath,Nehrurefusedtotakemoneyfromthe
millionaireDalmiaandearnedmoneyforhimselfbywritingbooks.Thesewerebellelettristic
productionsnotideologicaltomesandaregracefullywritteninastylewhichowesmuchtoVernacular
Romanticism.NehrugraduallymovedtotheleftandwasseenbytheCongressOldGuardasabridge
totheyoungergenerationofradicals.However,ashewasthefirsttoadmit,hisSocialismwas
sentimentalmerelyi.e.Nehrucouldbeseenasaconvenienttabularasaforsomeintellectuallybetter
endowedideologuetowritewhateverhewanteduponandthussellittotheIndianpeople.Hilariously,
thismeantthatNehruvianSocialismwas'AgencyCaptured'MonopolyCapitalismsecuringtheinterests
oftheveryplutocracywhichhadfinancedMahatmaGandhi.
OnefactorinthepartitionofIndiawhichtendstobeoverlookedistheMuslimLeague'sseekingan
alliancewiththeCommunistsagainsttheHinduMerchantclass.Iqbalgaveanideologicaljustification
forthis.HesawthatwhereasWesternLiberalismaroseoutofthedistinctoriginsandconflicting
trajectoriesofState,ChurchandCommonsforexample,inEngland,King'sEquitybasedonNorman
FrenchwasinconflictwithbothCanonLaw(basedinLatinandwithaseparateCourtDoctor's
CommonstillthesecondhalfoftheNineteenthCentury)aswellastheCommonLaw(supposedly
basedonimmemorialAngloSaxontraditions)Islamsufferednosuchdefect.State,Churchand
CommonscomeintoexistenceatthesametimeandeveryMuslimbelongsequallytoallthreerealms.
ThusPoliticalIslamhadahysteresisfreepathtoSocialJusticesincetherewasnoneedforallsortsof
'checksandbalances'andproceduralpropriety.IqbalbelievedthatNehru'sSocialismwasdoomedto
failbecausetheHinduCastesystemwouldstrangleitatbirth.Thus,heurgedJinnahtosupportthe
demandforPakistanasitwastheonlywaythatMuslimscouldfreethemselvesofperniciousHindu
influences.ShurawardyandLiaqatwentonestepfurtherandproposedanalliancewiththeLefttotax
theHindu'Bania'caste(towhichGandhibelonged)outofexistence.Thiswasanexistentialthreatto
thefinanciersoftheIndianNationalCongressandagoodenoughreasonforthemtoendorsePartition.
TheCommunists,undertheinfluenceofStalin'stheoryofNationality,endorsedthePakistandemand
and(ashappenedtotheArabCommunistswhosupportedthecreationofIsraelonordersfrom
Moscow)cuttheirownthroatsadeeplysatisfyingoutcomeforallconcerned.
6)UnlikeIndira,NehrufavoredstrongleadersintheStates.However,dominantcasteswereunhappy
withthebordersoftheseStates.Linguisticreorganizationwasn'tenoughtoplacatelocaldominant
castesandtheirTieboutpreferences.Sincepeoplenolongerhadasecureideaofwhattheirnative
stateshouldlooklikewhereastheboundariesofIndiawerenotessentiallycontestedatleastforHindu
Indiansthe'ideaofIndia'withNehruattheCenterprovidingapsychologicallynecessarysynoecism
whichcontributedtoCongress'selectoralvictories.Indeed,anunforeseenresultofthisonewherethe
NehruandlaterIndirawerethebiggest'votecatchers'hadtheeffectofreinforcingbureaucratic
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centralizationandrentseekingdirigismewhich,however,hadnostronggrassrootspoliticalsupport
andwasthus'apolitical'andhadtheappearanceofbeing'technocratic'andinformedbycurrent
EconomictheoryandStatisticalbestpractice.
7)India,whetherundertheBritishorafterIndependence,didnotenjoy'thingsliketherightof
assemblyandprotestunderreasonablecircumstances,therighttoproperty,andfreedomof
expressionwitharelativelyfreepress,becameapartandparcelofIndianpoliticallandscapebefore
independence.'Onthecontrary,everypassingdecadesawsomerestrictiononsuchrights.Indian
Cinema,forexample,wasmorefreeintheNineteenTwentiesthantheThirties.Filmsmadeinthe
FortieswouldhavebeenbannedintheFifties.
However,IndiawhetherundertheBritishorlateronwasa'softstate'.Itdidnotpossesstheresources
tostampoutallprotestbuthadtoplayawaitinggameonlytakingpunitiveactiononcetheagitators
hadrunoutofsteamandordinarypeopleweresickandtiredoftheirshenanigans.Atthatpoint,the
Stateswoopedinandhandedoutstiffpunishment.
SomepeoplemaythinktherewasequalityunderthelawundertheBritish.Therewasn't.Suppose
someguybeatsyouupandrapesyourwife.YoutakehimtoCourt.ItturnsoutheisaPrince,orelsea
zamindarwhoenjoysimmunityfromarrestwhileonhisownproperty.Youareshitoutofluck.The
Viceroymighttakesomediscreetactionbutthenagainhemightnot.Thescandalofunequaltreatment
continuedtillIndiraGandhicancelledthespecialprerogativesandPrivyPursesoftheAristocracy.By
then,however,therewasavastclassofpeoplewhocouldbeatyouupandrapeyourwifewith
impunity.TaketheMayaTyagicase.Awomanissittinginhercar.Apassingpoliceman,whohappens
tobedrunk,becomesfascinatedwithherbreastsand'outofaspiritofchildlikecuriosity'(astheofficial
reportsays)putshandthroughthewindowtofondleherbosom.Herhusbandcomesbackand
thrashesthepolicemen.Hegetshispalsandtheyshootthehusbandandhistwofriendsanddragthe
womantothePoliceStationwheretheybeatherandrapeherandchargeherwithbeingabandit.Mrs.
GandhistandsbythePolicemensayingMayaTyagiwasawomanofdubiouscharacter.Evenafter
meetingMayaTyagisheexpressedsomereservations.ThishappenedinNineteenEighty.Public
outcrydideventually,aftereightyears,leadtosomeoftheculpritsbeingsenttojail.Itseems,the
publicdohavesomecountervailingpowerovertheStatebutitisahitandmissaffair.
Whatabouttherighttoproperty?Surely,theBritishRajwasa'nightwatchmanstate'whichenforced
propertyrights?TakealookatRajendraPrasad'sbookontheChamparanagitation.Thetruthis,in
ruralIndia,theMagistrateswerealsotheLandlordswhoemployedgangsofmusclemen.Thelocal
moneylenderRajKumarShukla,ofChamparanfame,wasamoneylendernota'simpleagriculturalist'
asGandhiwouldhaveusbelievemighthavesomecountervailingpowerbutthelawyersthemselves
knewthatitwaspointlesstofightcourtcasesbasedontheletterofthelaw.Theothersidewould
simplyfilefalsecriminalchargeswhilesendingtheirmusclementorapeandbeatallandsundry.
Whataboutahighcastemanenjoyinghisownancestralproperty?Surely,hewassafeunderthe
British?Nope.Thinkagain.Somedistantrelativefilesacourtcasesayingthathisgrandparentswere
'svagotra'andthustheirmarriagewasillegal.TheCourtupholdsthepetition.Thenexttwentyorthirty
yearsarespentlitigatingthemattertillnoPropertyisleft.Obviously,therewasasortofinformal
countervailingpoweravailablethenasnow.WhereasIndianLiberalslikeRajaRamohanRoy
campaignedfortheseparationoftheExecutiveandJudicialfunction,inpracticeIndianspreferred
'judgementonhorseback'fromtheCollectorwhorefusestoentertainfraudulentorvexatiouscases
andreinforceshisjudgementwiththethreatofapublicflogging.
PartofthereasonthatIndianLiberalismisanimpossibleprojectisbecauseJudicialprocessesinthe
greaterpartofIndiahavealwaysbeenwhollycorrupt.True,thePoliceoftendocatchholdofthebad
guys.Buttheyrelyontortureandthenuseprofessionalwitnessesi.e.amanpaidtolietosecure
convictions.Itisanopensecret.Theconceptoftellingthetruthinawitnessstatementsimplydoesnot
exist.Supposeyouarefoolishenoughtotellthetruthinacriminalcase.Suppose,further,youdon't
havethemeanstoattendCourtwhenrequired.Thepolicelockyouupsoastobesureofbeingableto
produceyouasawitness.But,thecriminal'slawyerkeepsgettingtheCourtdatepostponed.Eventually
youwithdrawyourstatementandturnhostilesimplysoastogetyourlifeback.
AJudicialsystemwheretellingliesbecomesthenormcan'tworkinaLiberalfashion.Itcanatbestbe
cosmetic.Similarly,LiberalDemocracycanonlyworkifthereisnowidespreadpreferencefalsification
andstrategicbehavior.Yet,Indianpoliticsconsistsofnothingelse.
TakethecaseofNarendraModi.LikeManmohanSinghhisclaimtohighofficearisesoutofhisnever
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PoetryasSocioproctology:ImpossibilityofanIndianIlliberalorwhyModiisn'ttheDevilpart1

havingbeenapoliticiannotevenasastudent.SinghwasaGovernmentbureaucrat.ModiwasaParty
workerwhonevercontestedanelection.
Byanaccidentoffate,Singhcametobeseenasatechnocratic'Liberalizer'.Hewasnothingofthe
sort.AgenuineEconomistwouldinsistonproperauctiondesignforthesaleofthe2Gspectrum.Why?
Well,KenBinmoregotalotofpublicityforhiscleverauctiondesignfortheBritish3Gsale.Indian
Economistswouldwantsimilarwriteupsforthemselves.ButSinghwasnolongeranEconomistbut
justaloyalservantofthedynasty.Hedidwhathewastold.
SimilarlyModithoughafarmoreambitiousmanthanSinghwasparachutedintotheGujaratChief
Minister'sofficebecauseVajpayeeandAdvanithoughtofhimasafacelessbackroomboywhowould
fixthedysfunctionalpartymachineryandthenmoveontotroubleshootelsewhere.BecauseofGodhra,
Modi,quitebyaccidentgotthetagof'HinduHitler'thismadehiscareer.But,Modiwasn'taHitler.The
lunaticfringeofhisPartyhatedhimbecausehehadcalledintheArmytoshootrampagingHindus.His
responsetoAkshardhamwasevenworse.Hedidn'tpermitevenatokenpogrom.Yet,thelunaticfringe
waspowerlessbecauseitwasintheinterestsofalltheotherpartiestopaintModiastheDevil.He
wasn't.Tosomeextent,hemightlooklikeanIndianLiberalofthevernacularSharadAnantrao
JoshitypebuthehasnobucolicillusionsabouttheAgriculturalsector.Thefactis,themanisn'ta
Brahmin.HeknowsasdomostIndians,includingBrahminsdeepdowninhisbonesthatPunditry,
whetherLiberalorNativistorLeftistorwhatever,issimplyelitisthotairandhypocrisy.The
'educationallybackwardcastes'don'tneedthesortofcredentialisteducationwhichmakesIndians
stupiderthanGodintended.Onthecontrary,theydoneedtobeproductiveofthingsthatpeoplewant
tobuy,notgobshitesmerely.GettingMurliManoharJoshioutofBenaresisagoodfirststep.But,can
Modireallywithstandpressuresfromthe'HeavenBorn'bureaucratsinNewDelhi?MighttheBrahmins
notremakehimintheirownfatuousimage?
ThefirststepindoingsoistopraiseModiastheincarnationofIndianLiberalism.Sincethatnotionis
anoxymoron,shouldModisuccumbtoit,hisfutilityisguaranteed.However,thereisonerayofhope.
ModididanM.AinPoliticsi.e.heisamoronwhodoesn'tknowthedifferencebetweenShyamprasad
MookerjeeandShyamjiKrishnaVermathushemaybeimmunetothesirensongofIndianLiberalism
andthustoostupidtobetheDevilwhofinallydestroysIndia

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