Gandhi, Nehru, Jayaprakash and Lohia

(Democratic Decentralization and Village Development)

Professor C. Lakshmanna
“The constitution is primarily shaped and moulded for the common man. It is a
constitution not meant for the ruler but for the ranker, the tramp of the road”
- N A Palkiwala.

Introduction : these challenges. It may be a long way before

the dreams of the leaders who waged a relentless
The dream which the four foremost leaders
war for Indian independence are achieved, unless
of Indian Freedom struggle and Indian
renewed attempts and reasonably well articulated
Independence dreamt, namely that India’s
strategies and programmes are chalked out and
liberation lies not in its political freedom but in its
executed for fulfilling their cherished goals.
social and economic emancipation, still remains
unfulfilled even after sixty (to be precise sixty Gandhi and Gram Swaraj :
three) years of political freedom. All the four of “To serve our villages is to establish swaraj.
them did live to see India gaining liberation from Any thing else is but an idle dream” asserted
British rule but no to see that the “Common man” Gandhiji. Gandhi felt that freedom for India is
of “the street” was free of want from ‘hunger’, meaningful only when the remote village in India
‘shelter’ and ‘security’. That is, perhaps, the gained self rule. Gramswaraj or Village self rule
greatest tragedy of free India. India might have was, thus, central to his philosophy of
achieved growth and prosperity but the fruits of development. He wanted a political and social
growth have not trickled down to the daliths and organization in India which centred around the
dispossessed in the far flung corners of village village and villager. For him India was nothing
India. India is one of the most illiterate societies but a confederation of village republics. The
in the world. Poverty prevails, still, among a large villager could perceive his felt needs in a
section of the rural population. Health and meaningful way and, thus, could formulate the
Medicare is a distant dream for many of the rural plans and programmes in a way suited to his
Indians. Recent advances in Medicare and concept of development, with a full view of the
technology have only increased inequalities comprehensive growth of all the villagers. As
between the haves and have-nots. Caste looms usual. in his thinking, the village development
large as a living curse to many Indians, notably should basically centre around truth and
among the rural population. No doubt efforts are nonviolence.
being made to reduce these maladies but not
sufficient enough to banish these evils from the Gandhi was convinced that there was enough
lower segments of the Indian population. One to meet man’s needs but may not be enough to
can not say with conviction that there is sufficient meet with his greed. He basically looked at villages
“will” and “commitment” on the part of those who and villager’s independence and
are at the helm of affairs in the country to meet interdependence. He was clear regarding the net

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working of the village republics. He considered demonstrates his idea of industrialization in the
each village as its own republic. He derived this villages. Gandhi advocated removal of all
philosophy from the existence of such self reliant inequalities and injustices. Gandhi’s village
village republics in ancient India. In 1942, Gandhi socialism stood for ‘decentralization of
wrote, “(village was)independent of its production’ and ‘regional self sufficiency’. The
neighbours for its own vital wants and yet persistent wretched conditions of the farmers
interdependent for many others in which point to the need of Gandhi’s ideas on agriculture
dependence is necessary”. He was realistic that and village development, in the absence of which
all requirements of village could not be met within the villages have become dependent on the towns
the village but that we should also look beyond and cities. In Gandhi’s own words:” my idea of
its boundaries. He argued that each village should village swaraj is that it is a complete republic,
be basically self reliant making provisions for all independent of its neighbours for its wants, and
necessities of life, namely food, clothing, clean yet interdependent for many others in which
water, sanitation, housing, education and others dependence is a necessity. Thus every village’s
including governance and self defence. In short, first concern will be to grow its own food crops
all socially useful and productive amenities and cotton for its cloth. It should have a reserve
required for sound and healthy living within the for its cattle, recreation and play ground for its
community should fall within the preview of each adults and children. Then if there is more land
village in its self rule. He also thought of a theatre available, it will grow some useful money crops,
or a public hall as necessities for a village thus excluding ganja, tobacco, opium and the like.
community. Independence for India for him, The village will maintain a theatre, school and
therefore, meant that every village would be a public hall. It will have its own waterworks
republic with full powers. Its dependence on ensuring clean supply. This can be done through
confederating units could be minimum. Gandhi controlled wells and tanks. Education will be
compulsory up to the final basic course. As far
was indeed a revolutionary in his conception of
as possible every activity will be conducted on
Gramswaraj with village self rule and
the co-operative basis. There will be no castes
interdependent net working.
such as we have today with their graded
There are some misconceptions about untouchability. Non-violence with its technique
Gandhi’s views on technology and of Satyagraha and non-co-operation will be the
industrialization. It is to be stressed that Gandhi sanction of the village community. There will be
was not opposed to technology and its use. He a compulsory service of village guards who will
only cautioned about its wrong use and over be selected by rotation from the register
emphasis. He considered technology as a good maintained by the village. The government of the
servant and a bad master,. In so far as man had village will be conducted by the Panchayat of
control over mechanics of technology, Gandhi five persons, annually elected by the adult
had no difficulty with it. He was, however, villagers, male and female, possessing minimum
opposed to the indiscriminate use of technology prescribed qualifications. These will have all the
for technology sake. Similarly he was clear about authority and jurisdiction required. Since there
the industrialization, particularly in the rural areas. will be no system of punishments in the accepted
The philosophy of Khadi and Gramodyog amply sense, this Pandhayat will be the legislature,

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judiciary and executive combined to operate for understanding of India and Indian people. Their
its year of office. Any village can become such a paths were, however, different. For Gandhi,
republic today without much interference, even village self rule and village self reliance were
from the present Government whose sole effective testament of faith. Nehru believed in planning and
connection with the villages is the exaction of the planned development. With that he believed that
village revenue. I have not examined here the rural areas also will be developed. He held a
question of relations with the neighbouring villages holistic and integrated view of the growth and
and the centre if any. My purpose is to present development of the country. Though Nehru had
an outline of village government. Here there is faith in “Bottom up” thesis of development
perfect democracy based upon individual process, yet his programmes resulted in “Top
freedom. The individual is the architect of his own down” in decision making syndrome which dried
government. The law of non-violence rules him up some where in the middle and the bottom of
and his government. He and his village are able the pyramid craved for the fruits of development.
to defy the might of a world. For the law Congress rule in post Nehru period consolidated
governing every villager is that he will suffer death this process further where as for Gandhi true
in the defence of his and his village’s honour”.. It independence for India meant a comprehensive
is indeed a reasonable basis for contemporary transformation of Indian society and polity. For
sustainable development in the country side. Nehru, it meant no more than the political
independence of India from Britain. Devolution
Nehru : Planning and Democratic
of significant governmental power to villages or
Decentralization :
clusters of villagers was not the main agenda in
Nehru was a lifelong associate and disciple Nehru’s thinking. Nehru ardently desired to carve
of Gandhiji. He participated in struggles for out India as a modern industrialized and
freedom under Indian Nation Congress. He was democratic socialist nation state. His nearest
jailed several times by the British. Nehru’s was attempt at Gramswaraj was his Community
an enigmatic personality. He came from a cultured Extension Projects which he initiated on Oct 2,
family of Alahabad and was son of a rich and 1952 in different parts of the country. In this
successful lawyer. Motilal Nehru who later scheme of things, the Block Development
became a prominent congress leader and the Officer, Extension Education Officer and Gram
President of the Indian National Congress. Sevak occupied central positions. But these
Jawaharlal Nehru jumped into freedom struggle schemes failed to deliver goods. Nehru was still
on his return from England after his studies there. determined about democratic decentralization. At
While he was in UK he was greatly influenced his initiative, Balwant Rai Mehta studied the
by the Russian Revolution and the Soviet rule. In problems associated with community extension
addition, he became an ardent follower of programmes and recommended a comprehensive
socialism. On return to India, however, he joined programme of Three Tier Panchayati Raj, Nehru
the Indian National Congress and participated initiated this Three Tier Panchayati Raj system
in the freedom struggle. He was also greatly October 2, 1957 in Rajasthan and on November
influenced by Gandhi. The appreciation was 1, 1957 in Andhra Pradesh. Gradually all the
mutual and Gandhiji often declared that Nehru states adopted this system. But after several
was his political heir. Both had a great amendments, the devolution of powers and

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finances to the Gram Sabhas is still a distant from exploitation and inequalities. The unbearable
reality. The decentralized Panchayati Raj conditions in Congress Party after independence,
institutions are deeply drowned in the cesspool he established an independent Socialist Party in
of corruption and bureaucratic muddle. That the 1948 with himself as the General Secretary.
gram panchayats should become effective
Jaya Prakash’s restless mind was in pursuit
instruments of development with transparent
of more lasting solutions to the problems of the
devolution of powers and finances is an urgent
rural poor. By 1954, Jaya Prakash was attracted
desideratum to day.
to Vinoba Bhave’s Land Gift (Bhoodan)
Jayaprakash Narayan Gram Dan and Movement. Regarding this, Jaya Prakash made
Village development : it clear in his own words, “For many years, I
Jaya Praksh Narayan or Jaya Prakash (J.P) have worshipped at the shrine of the goddess-
as he was popularly known is one of the stalwarts dialectical materialism which seemed to me
of freedom movement. He was a hero during Quit intellectually more satisfactory than any other
India Movement. Along with Dr. Ram Manohar philosophy. But while the main quest of
Lohia,Achyut Patwadhen, Aruna Asif Ali, philosophy remain unsatisfied, it has become
Youssouf Mehrauli and others, he organized pertinent to me that materialism of any sort robs
under-ground movement during Quit India man of means to become truly human. In a
Movement. While he was pursuing his studies in material civilization man has no rational incentive
sociology in US, where he earned his livelihood to be good.” Thus he came to the conclusion
by doing odd jobs, he came under the influence that “Socialism must eventually merge into
of Marxism and greatly admired Communism Sarvodaya”. He called Sarvodaya as “people’s
and Soviet Union. But humanist as he was, he socialism” as opposed to “state socialism”. In
moved away from communism but remained a what he called “Communitarianism” the goal was
socialist through out his life. Before proceeding to create human community’s “self governing, self
to US and after return, Jaya Prakash was sufficient, agro industrial, urban-rural local
immensely influenced by Gandhi. On return to communities”. An eminent personality, he
India, Jaya Prakash joined Indian National influenced Land Gift (Sarvodaya) Movement
Congress and started in 1934 Congress Socialist greatly to popularize it and its message. Though
party as part of it, along with socialist minded he had become nonpolitical with his involvement
leaders. During this period, he identified with the in Bhoodan and Sarvodaya, (theses movements
work force and worked for their liberation. In were Gram Dan for him ) yet he was active with
the wake of 1935 India Act, he fought for several problems which confronted the society.
inclusion of the demands of kisans and workers This diversion from active polities, perhaps, made
in the election manifests of the Congress Party. him not to devote much time to the village self
He sided with Kisan Sabha and presented a ten rule and rural governance. But he applied his mind
point draft note on an order of society based on to Panchayati Raj institutions when he headed
equality and justice which was published by an Evaluation team. His report on Panchayat Raj
Gandhiji in his “Harijan” at Jaya Prakash’s is a land mark achievement. His report
request. Jaya PRakash fought for India’s freedom emphasized on the role of leadership in
as a prelude for the establishment of society free democratic decentralization. He suggested

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“Escalator Model” for the growth of leadership National Congress while Nehru was its President
from the village to the national stage. In this Later he faulted with Nehru’s nonaligned policy
‘bottom up’ system, the leaders should emerge in independent India. It was evident, more
from the rural areas and move upwards, which pointedly, during Korean War in early fifties. He
alone can safe guard the interests of the villages. was opposed to Hitler and Mussolini in their
He built up the All India Panchayat Parishad and imperialistic designs. He equally considered the
the Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural British and American stand in Second World War
Development to strengthen the grass root as imperialistic.
democratic development. For settlement of Lohia opposed despotic rule any where. He
disputes by peaceful means, he established an opposed feudal forces in Nepal and was arrested
Arbitration Council and for propagation of and deposed from Nepal. He was relentless
Gandhiji’s idea’s, a Trusteeship council. All these against despotic Portugese rule in Goa and fought
institutions are a tribute to his remarkable qualities for its liberation and merger with India. He
to keep track of all those problems and issues detected dictatorial tendencies in Indira Gandhi
confronting the grass toot society. While he was quite early and opposed her government in and
involved in other profound activities, Jaya outside Parliament.
Prakashji lived and strived hard thought out his
In Lohia’s thinking there was no place for
life to build a Vibrant India devoid of injustices police firing in democratic and free India. He
and inequalities. demanded the resignation of Pattom Thanu Pillai
Lohia and Socialist Agenda : from Chief Ministership when there was police
firing in Taivancore-Cochin state (later Kerela),
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia was a rare
and Pattom Thanu Pillai was the first Socialist
intellectual among Indian politicians. He was a
Chief Minister in independent India. In an oblique
democrat and humanist at the same time. He
reference to Neelam Sanjiva Reddy in LOhia’s
fought against inequalities and injustices thought
famous India Coffee House (Lucknow)
out his life. He was an iconoclast. At an young
discussions. I remember to have heard him say
age, when he was a doctoral student in Germany
with appreciation of ‘the police firing free rule’
in early thirties, he revolted against Hitler and his of Reddy’s chief ministership. It was further
Nazism. He was anti-imperialist in his thought evident in his relationship with him when Reddy
and deed. He was a true Marxist and a great was the speaker of Lok Sabha in 1967 of which
Socialist. He stood for common man and strived Lohia was a distinguished member. These two
for his liberation from oppression and exploitation. instances clearly testify to the democratic
While he admired Nehru, he was not afraid to traditions of Lohia.
oppose him tooth and nail when he felt that Nehru
was deviating from the socialist ideal. He did not Lohia was an astute thinker. His works on
hesitate to pronounce Nehru dead when he felt Marx, Gandhi, Wheel of History and Caste are
he deviated from socialist democratic path. He evidence to his fertile mind. They contain some
remained a bitter critic of Nehru through out his of the fine seminal ideas on events and individuals.
life in independent India. He was with Nehru in He admired Marx and Gandhi even more. He
had unique understanding of the caste system.
enunciating the non aligned policy when he
He was certain that there was no place for caste
headed the Foreign Affairs Division of the Indian

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in democratic and free India. It was exploitative imposition of limitations and disparities across
and pernicious It heaped favours on some and gender, age and rural urban division. With his,
oppression on may. It divided the society on lines “Chaukhambha Raj’, he was ahead of his times
of untouchability. Its abolition is good for Indian and anticipated subsequent changes in Indian
society and sooner, the better. governance.
Lohia and Chaukhambha Raj (Four Pillars Conclusion :
of Democratic Rule) : A critical appraisal of the foregoing discussion
Among several contributions of Lohia for presents the following salient points.
India’s society and its development, the one on 1. All the four important leaders of the Indian
Chakhambha Raj is exemplary and seminal for freedom movement, discussed earlier, were
rural leadership, village self rule and integrated concerned with the development of the grass
development. It stands for the four tier, roots society.
devolutionary and integrated development. Lohia
recognized the four important levels of India’s 2. While Gandhi and Jaya Prakash were
governance. Each of them is important for a concerned more with Gramswaraj and
holistic growth model, They are not disparate Sarvodaya (with Bhoodan and Gramdan),
segmental arrangements. They are inter linked, Nehru and Lohia were keen for the
and absence of development of any one of them development of a decentralized society. None
spells disaster for the development of the whole the less, all of them recognized different levels
process. Chaukhambha for Lohia meant the in society and polity. They stood for cohesive,
recognition of the fact that democracy stands on integrated and all round development.
four pillars, viz the centre, the states, the districts 3. They were witness to varying levels of
and the villages. It is believed that even within development because of variance in time of
the existing limitations, the Panchayt Raj can be their presence after independence. All the four
a big instrument of highly relevant social change. of them did not live long to oversee the
And imagine the status of the society, with great development process. Three of them had no
speed and gusto of development, after these role in independent India’s governance.
limitations are recognized and redeemed. For Nehru was wedded to macro development
achieving this, Lohia was not content with process, believing in planning and centralized
decentralization in growth. That is to say, he did development programmes..
not stop with economic growth with
decentralization. He stood for decentralization in 4. In the centenary year of Lohia, all democratic
social and political fields. He was restless with minded people in the country should ponder
the efforts made to strengthen the central over the strengths and weaknesses of our
administration. He bemoaned the concentration leaders and work out a process which brings
of powers at the union level. He stood for out an all round development in the country.
devolution of power and finance right up to the 5. Gandhi, Nehru, Jaya Prakash and Lohia had
village level. On the way, he recognized the faith in participatory democracy. Because of
importance of the strong States and Zilla their, as well as of other leaders efforts, Indian
Parishads. In other words, he stood for democracy is vibrant. It is the responsibility
decentralized power structure and leadership. He of present generation to sustain and strengthen
was opposed to all sorts of discriminations and this grass roots democracy.

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