By Justice Markandey Katju
I am 78 years old, and have several medical ailments. So before I leave this world I am presenting the essence of my ideas in the form of a mathematical theorem, created after decades of intense study, reflection, and discussions with people intellectually superior to me ( who are now no more ), which is the formula for solving our people's problems. In this theorem, like in mathematical theorems, each step logically follows the previous step.
This theorem must be carefully studied and disseminated widely among Indians ( in which term I include Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, since we are really one nation, only temporarily and artificially divided by a British swindle in 1947 ).
The Grand Indian Theorem
1. The real problem facing India is how to abolish massive poverty, massive unemployment, appalling level of child malnutrition ( every second child in India is malnourished, according to Global Hunger Index ), skyrocketing prices of food, fuel and other essential commodities, almost total lack of proper healthcare and good education for the masses, etc.
2. This problem can only be solved by a historical transformation of India into a mighty industrial giant, like USA and China, because it is only modern industry which can create the wealth for providing for the welfare of our people
3. Such a transformation cannot be achieved within the present constitutional and political system which runs on the basis of parliamentary democracy. As is well known, parliamentary democracy in India largely runs on the basis of caste and communal vote banks. Casteism and communalism are feudal forces, which have to be destroyed if India is to progress, but parliamentary democracy further entrenches them ( because it largely runs on their basis )
4.Hence an alternative system has to be created by the enlightened patriotic section of our people, under which there is rapid industrialisation and modernisation, and the standard of living of our people rapidly rises.
5. Creating such an alternative political and social system in which our people get decent lives requires a protracted, arduous people's revolution in which tremendous sacrifices will have to be made, and it is not possible within the present system. The vested interests within the present system, both internal and external, will not permit a radical transformation of the present political and social order ( as that will adversely affect their interests ), and will oppose it tooth and nail.
6. Historical experience shows that before every actual revolution which radically changes society there is always a period of ideological revolution, in which the weapons used are not guns, bombs or swords but ideas. For example, before the great French Revolution of 1789 which destroyed feudalism in France there was a long period of ideological struggle during which great thinkers and writers like Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot and the French Encyclopedists attacked the entire feudal system, feudal ideas, feudal practices, and religious bigotry.
India is presently passing through the period of its ideological revolution. The actual revolution, which will inevitably come, is still a far way off. It is the duty of all patriotic people at this stage to contribute in this ideological revolution, by combating feudal ideas and practices, spreading scientific ideas by their ideas and writings, and exposing the present political leaders in India, who are all a bunch of rogues and rascals, and have no genuine love for the people, but only have a vested interest in retaining the present rotten system and polarising society by spreading hatred on caste and religious lines, for vote banks.
7. As regards the present ongoing parliamentary elections in India, the patriotic people must explain to the Indian masses its historical significance,
8. After the ideological struggle has been waged for some time by enlightened, patriotic, selfless, modern minded individuals they must come together and form a political organisation for taking it forward towards the stage of the actual revolution, and giving leadership to the people. This is necessary because only a political organisation, not just ideas, can create a revolution. Ideas will no doubt initiate the process, but cannot take it forward and culminate it.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court. These are his personal views.)
