Philosophy of Satyagraha to Sarvodaya

 Philosophy of Satyagraha to Sarvodaya

(Truthfulness to Universal Development)

Indian Industries had good time in eighties, particularly in later part of eighties with growth rate of average 5.5 % per annum and manufacturing industries were growing in a much faster rate of 8.9 % per annum. Market capitalization grew from 1980 Rs. 68 billion to 1989 Rs. 550 billion. Many big corporates grew in the country in a very fast rate during that time and the concept of MNCs culminated and got established in only couple of years. The industries and middle class people had grown substantially during this time because of creation of new job opportunities. Few companies like Reliance grew at the rate of 60% per annum. Though it was the golden period for Indian industries and middle class, the rapid growth of capitalism and fast growth of population in the country had resulted in making large chunk of population under poverty line, and in mid-eighties number of people in the State of Odisha died of Starvation. The similar situation was reported in Bihar and few north eastern states. The education in the rural areas (having more than 80% population) during that time were driven by caste and leaving 80% SCs and around 90% STs behind illiterate and making them unproductive socially. They were dependent on very low paid manual jobs and were depending on average Rs.50/- a week per family. 

Situation was driven by a very liberal industrial policy supporting massive industrialization and focused on creation of opportunities, without any guiding system or rules for sharing of resources or environmental consciousness. The philosophy of Gandhiji of an agrarian community based economy of substituting imports and making / getting own livelihood around had almost lost its importance and the establishment of big industries left behind the sick cottage industries and many illiterate small generational trade dependent people job less. The realization of absence of socialism, involvement of mass in developmental process and accumulation of wealth with few people happened in the mid of 2000s or in the first half of last decade. (2010-2015). So lots of initiatives were taken by Govt. of India for registration of MSMEs in the country which resulted in registration of 6.3 crores registration in the country by May,2021.  The registration crossed 30,00,882 in 2021 by replacing the old system. The Indian MSMEs contribute 29 % towards national GDP. MSMEs are encouraged to sell their products through e-portal sites, which not only provided them the opportunity to communicate their strengths but also to expand their reach and hit the target audience. The Government e marketing portal (GEM) has served 7 million orders to 2.2 million registered sellers of US 16.30 billion $. The pandemic has given momentum to the community enterprise concepts not only in India but also in Western countries. Numerous steps are being taken by Government of India to promote community based enterprises by involvement of a large number of population, which is being driven by the concept of Honorable Prime Minister of India, Atma Nirbhar Bharat, promotion of agrarian economy on application of new and modern technology of AI and IOT starting from production site to market survey and market reach. 

Slowly we have realized the truth that we have to come closer to the human  centric system, where the whole enterprise space will be for the people, by the people and o the people, which will help a large chunk to earn money and to increase the purchasing power of people. Gandhi’s participative and local based economy concept will work more efficiently in present context. The transparent business activities through portals and the realization of more than 75% cash through digital medium is bringing transparency to the system and making the whole business space ethical and truthful. His commitment to truth is well reflected in his book ‘My experience with Truth ‘. The Satyagraha with objective of driving attention towards truth and developing a group who will believe in truth and support the real and genuine cause in 1910s had solved many problems during that time and had supported common man to get involved in the activities they wanted and enjoy the result they deserved starting from exploitations, wage problems and preference of jobs.  

Gandhiji’s main concept Sarvodaya, making good of mass, the spiritual concept taken from Veda had helped him to involve in the movement of “Make in India, four satyagrahas, and many more fights for farmers, for Sati Daha etc. etc. and finally freedom fight. Realisation of self and realization of presence of god in each and every living being facilitates such beliefs and motivate to fight for mass. Post pandemic effect on massive development of health care facilities, establishment of large number of  MSMEs  and human centric approach of social and human development through different investment policies are based on the principle of mass development. 

The international image of our country India and citizens of this country  are based on Gandhian ethos of tolerance and non-violence and drawing attention of whole globe. India has been appreciated in many international forums starting from UN general assembly, G 20 Summit, World economic forum for this. 

We Indians are proud of our father of Nation and his four distinct philosophies, being appreciated and adopted by the globe i.e. Non-violence, Belief in spirituality, Truthfulness and Universal Development. While, whole globe is trying a lot for development of resilience in social and economic development for rebuilding of a peaceful and sustainable society, those principles are  providing clues for the world, the principles which has helped this large nation to manage cover in an effective way by protecting a page chunk of population from spreading of disease and smooth vaccination to largest population.  In the eve of his birthday, 2^nd October, let us get connected to those great thoughts and committed to its ethos ………