Swami Vivekananda’s economic
thoughts offer many valuable lessons
For every country, the central objective of economic principles
should be the welfare and progress of all sections of people. The ideas,
approaches and policies of each country should be based on its fundamentals
and ground realities. They should take into account the nature, background,
experiences and potential of the people that comprise the nation.
It is all the more true for a country like India with
a long history and unique backgrounds. But unfortunately the ruling
establishment and the policy making circles are not aware of the realities and the
functioning of the vast sections of our society. The elite and the educated
sections coming out of universities know only the western concepts and theories
taught to them in their class rooms.
The education system introduced by the British does
not provide any scope to learn the background and functioning of our economy. As
a result only those who have the practical exposure and knowledge about the
unique functioning systems are able to understand the Indian economy.
Swami Vivekananda’s long travels across the nation and
other parts of the world, his personal interactions with diverse sections of
people and understanding of the history and functioning of societies provided
him an opportunity to develop ideas based on the realities. His ideas and prescriptions
are very useful to us even after more than a century.
Swami Vivekananda believed that the well-being of the
universe should be the guiding factor for all the economic activities of the
government as well as the individuals. No economist in the world has ever prescribed
such a noble motive as the basis for economic activities. To quote: “The
Vivekananda doctrine is firm in the belief that the spirit of universal
well-being should be the guiding force behind the economic actions of both the
government and the individuals.” 1
As for India, Swamiji was very clear that improving
the living standards of the masses was the top priority. He wanted development involving
all sections of the society. He said: "Let
New India arise- out of the peasants' cottage, grasping the plough; out of the
huts of the fisherman, the cobbler and the sweeper. Let her spring from the
grocer's shop, from besides the oven of the fritter-seller. Let her emanate
from the factory, from marts and from markets. Let her emerge from groves and
forests, from hills and mountains." 2
Swami Vivekananda had original ideas for the different
sectors of the economy. Take for example agriculture which is recognized as the
primary sector in the economy. It is the basis for all the other economic
activities, as it provides the most basic necessity of the human beings, namely
food.
But unfortunately it is not given the required
importance during the recent periods as modern economics assigns more emphasize
to the other sectors. The financial and speculative fields dominate the
economic discourse more than the productive areas. As a result the agricultural
sector on which about sixty per cent of the population depends remains
neglected.
Swami Vivekananda emphasized the importance of
agriculture for India and underlined that the nation should not hesitate to make
use of its strengths in the field.
Swamiji noted that “Indians must not shy off from the unique
characteristics of being an agricultural economy.”3 Quoting Swami
Vivekananda, Ghosh writes: “Few people in India sincerely think about this
matter. This has happened due to our education system. But he thinks that
proper development of agriculture is needed for the economic development of
India.” 4
India has inherent strengths in agriculture, which
other countries lack. She has a long history of superior performance and
achievements. Nature has endowed the nation with rich lands, adequate water
sources and sunshine throughout the year. Besides, we have hardworking
population possessing generations of the traditional knowledge systems in the
field.
India is a huge nation with the second highest
population in the world. Food security is very significant for the nation in the contemporary context when one cannot
depend on other countries for food. Besides, there is no other nation in the
world which can provide food for one sixth of the humanity. Hence agriculture is very critical for India. Swami
Vivekananda’s thoughts relating to agriculture assume importance in the present
period, when thousands are farmers are committing suicides every year and it is fast losing respect due to the wrong
approaches of the policy makers over the years.
Swamiji was also aware of the need for the development
of the industrial sector. With this
view, he encouraged the promotion of industries in all possible ways. He
discussed about industries in India with several persons on different
occasions, both in India and abroad. Besides, he supported the small scale and
cottage industries.
He urged the youngsters from the urban areas to go and
learn the traditional and artistic work in the rural areas. He said: “Go, and
see, even now in the distant villages, the old woodwork and brick work. The
carpenters of your town cannot even turn out a decent pair of doors. Whether
they are made for a hut or mansion is hard to make out! They are only good at
buying foreign tools, as if that is all carpentry! Alas! That state of things
has come upon all matters in our country. What we possessed as our own is all
passing away, and yet, all that we have learnt from foreigners is the art of
speechifying [sic]” 5
The essential requirement for a good economy is the
overall development of different sectors and the existence of balance among them. Swamiji realized the need for this balance. Ghosh notes: “He was aware that in a
developing nation, the primary need for a balance growth was to establish some
sort of concordant relation between agriculture and industry.”6
Swami Vivekananda emphasized the need to develop our own
methods to solve India’s problems. He said: “Open your eyes and see what a
piteous cry for food is rising in the land of Bharata, proverbial for its
wealth! Will your education fulfill this want? Never. With the help of Western Science dry
yourselves to dig the earth and produce food-stuffs – not by means of mean
servitude to others- but by discovering new avenues to production, by your
exertion aided by Western science. Therefore, I teach the people of this
country to be full of activities, so as to be able to produce food and clothing
for themselves.” 7
Swamiji advocated development based on Indian ethos
and realities. To quote: “There, in Japan, you find a fine assimilation of
knowledge, and its indigestion, as we have here. They have taken everything
from the Europeans, but they remain Japanese all the same, and have not turned
European; while in our country, the terrible mania of becoming westernized has
seized upon us like a plague.” 8
Thus Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts on economics offer
us many valuable lessons for rebuilding India.
References
1.
Ghosh,
Sarup Prasad, Swami Vivekananda’s Economic Thought in Modern International Perspective,
The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkatta, 2010, p.526
2.
Swami Vivekananda, Complete Works, Vol. 7, No.1, Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, 1992, p.327
3.
Swami
Gamvirananda quoted in Ghosh, op.cit., pp.
52-53
4.
Ghosh,
op.cit., p.53
5.
Swami Vivekananda, Complete Works, Vol.5 No.1, Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, 1992, pp.
474-5
6.
Ghosh,
op.cit., p.136
7.
Swami
Vivekananda, op.cit., Vol.7, No.1, p.182
8.
Swami
Vivekananda, op.cit., Vol. 5, No.1, p.372
( Yuva Bharati, Vol 41, No 5, Dec. 2013)
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