The Indian Communists at Cross-roads

In 90s we saw heated debates on economic liberalisation and globalisation. Now, with the confession of the living patriarch of Indian Communism, Shri Jyoti Basu, that only capitalism can solve the problems of the people has kicked off heated arguments and counter-arguments. As a leader who holds the distinction of being the Chief Minister of any Indian state for the longest period, his candid comments, underscores the need to bury outdated ideologies which are unsuitable for the people. The seasoned observations of 0f the octogenarian cannot be brushed aside as his comments carry some weightages.

This also points to the writing on the wall that the Indian Communists of late appear to be reconciled for an ideological make-over in tune with the Laissez Fair economy sweeping across the world. It took more than two decades for them to accept that Socialism is a Utopian concept best preached in books rather than practiced in practical life. The reality seems to have caught up with them at last owing to pragmatism, compulsions of being in the office, and political expediency. For the Communists, it a Hobson’s choice-like situation where being in power compels them to deliver the goods and secure employment for the citizens instead of delivering lectures based on an to-dated ideology thrown out by the people of those countries who put Communism to practice, nurtured it for decades and discarded it after being convinced of the futility of pursuing an impractical and highly unattainable social engineering.

So too is the change in the atheist mindset of the Communists who wrongly believed that religion is opium of the humankind. For many Communists, who even when privately admitted to have nurtured strong god-fearing beliefs, demonstrating agnostic or atheistic statements tantamount making mere ideological statements in public in a bid to convince the hoi polloi. The recent visit of the Kerala CM to Sabarimala, the Hindu temple dedicated to the lord Ayyappa, must be viewed in this context of fast changing mindset of the Communists both in economy and religion.

We must appreciate the vision of the first Prime Minister of the Republic, late Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, Who adopted mixed economy for country anticipating the dangers of embracing capitalism wholly and surrendering to the unholy embrace of Communism. He cleverly used the best of two isms to suit the economic and development of Indian economy. His vision stands vindicated today with the success of India in the post-liberalisation world.