Confronting Poverty, Unemployment, and Feudal Forces in the Fight for a Just and Modern India
Lord Macaulay, in his Lays of Ancient Rome, wrote:
“Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the gate,
To every man upon this earth,
Death cometh soon or late,
And how can man die better,
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his gods.”
India, today, faces fearful odds. What are these challenges? Let me explain.
Our primary adversities today are overwhelming and massive poverty, rampant unemployment, staggering child malnutrition (with half of India’s children malnourished, according to the Global Hunger Index), and an almost total lack of quality healthcare and education for the masses.
We should have overcome these challenges by now.
After 77 years of independence, why has the situation not improved but even worsened in many ways?
The reason lies in the fearful odds we face—odds few are fully aware of. Understanding these odds is crucial because without understanding them, how can we effectively confront them?
The Capitalist Global Framework
To begin with, one must recognize that the world today is dominated by capitalism. Once, the Soviet Union and China were socialist states, but both have transitioned into capitalism (China still claims to be socialist, though in practice it is capitalist). At its core, capitalism thrives on profit, not on charity or altruism.
Historical experience, especially after the Bolshevik Revolution and China’s 1949 revolution, revealed that to prevent socialist uprisings in capitalist countries, capitalism must be presented in a more humane light.
Hence, the theory of laissez-faire capitalism, as espoused by Adam Smith in 1776, was abandoned after the Great Depression of 1929. It was replaced by John Maynard Keynes’s theory, which advocated for state intervention in the economy to stabilize capitalism and make it appear more benevolent. However, at its heart, capitalism remains profit-driven and exploitative.
During the colonial era, Western imperialist nations plundered the resources of colonies like India, using the wealth to raise the standard of living for their own workers. This was not an act of generosity but of pragmatic survival. After colonial rule ended, the developed nations adopted a new form of exploitation: “aid” to newly independent nations, a tactic designed to keep them dependent and subservient.
The Global Economic System
The global capitalist system is structured in such a way that underdeveloped countries like India face formidable opposition if they attempt to industrialize on their own terms. Labour is a major cost in production, and countries with cheap labour (like India) can manufacture goods at lower costs than their developed counterparts.
If India were to develop a competitive industrial base, its products could easily undercut the price of those from Western countries, leading to massive unemployment in the West.
This is why the developed nations have no real interest in helping India industrialize. Aid programs, like those from the World Bank or IMF, are designed to preserve the status quo, not to empower nations like India. In fact, these “aid” programs often come with strings attached, perpetuating exploitation.
The Illusion of Progress
Despite over 70 years of foreign aid and developmental programs, the basic problems in India persist. Why, after decades of external assistance, is India still mired in poverty and hunger? According to the Global Hunger Index, every second child in India is malnourished. The country also faces staggering levels of unemployment, with millions of youth entering the job market each year, but only a fraction finding gainful employment. Women, too, suffer from the dearth of nourishment and medical care, with 57% of women being anaemic.
Even worse, the wealth of the nation is concentrated in the hands of a few. Just 10 individuals own 50% of India’s wealth, further exacerbating inequality.
Environmental and Institutional Failures
India has environmental protection laws, such as the Environment Protection Act of 1986. However, these laws are often ignored or poorly enforced due to corruption.
Moreover, the historical industrialization of Western nations was achieved without regard for environmental damage. It was only after their industrialization was complete that they began enacting environmental regulations.
The Divide Between Developed and Underdeveloped Nations
The world is divided into two categories: the developed countries (North America, Europe, Japan, Australia and China) and the underdeveloped countries (including India).
The developed world operates under an unspoken rule: underdeveloped countries must not be allowed to become developed countries. If India or any other developing country becomes industrialized, it would threaten the economic dominance of the West. The cheap labour of developing nations would allow them to sell goods at lower prices, undermining Western industries and resulting in widespread unemployment.
This is why the West vigorously opposes any attempt by India to industrialize and modernize its economy. To maintain control, they exploit internal divisions such as caste, religion, and language. In India, leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi are stoking communal tensions, which distract from the country’s real issues and prevent national unity.
Feudal Forces: Casteism and Communalism
India’s internal struggles, such as casteism and communalism, present additional barriers to progress.
These feudal forces are deeply entrenched in Indian society and are often manipulated by political elites to secure votes. Overcoming these divisions is not easy, but it is necessary if India is to move forward.
Also Read: Caste System – Who created and why is it not going away?
The Path Forward
To tackle these fearful odds, India needs a massive, long-term people’s struggle. This will require the leadership of visionary, patriotic individuals committed to modernizing the country.
It will require tremendous sacrifice and a people’s revolution to overthrow the corrupt, feudal structures that hold India back. At present, India is experiencing an ideological revolution. This phase, marked by the spread of ideas rather than physical conflict, precedes any actual revolution.
As the French Revolution was preceded by the ideas of Voltaire and Rousseau, India must undergo a similar ideological transformation. This transformation will challenge casteism, communalism, superstition, and the flawed parliamentary system that perpetuates these forces.
A Revolution is Coming
Revolution is inevitable in India because the interests of the people and the political elite are diametrically opposed. While the nation’s future requires the destruction of feudalism and rapid industrialization, the political class is concerned only with securing their power by maintaining the status quo. They perpetuate casteism and communalism to keep the people divided and get votes.
This makes parliamentary democracy ineffective, as it relies on vote banks based on caste and religion rather than merit. The Indian Constitution, which was meant to create a just and democratic society, has been hijacked by these feudal forces. As a result, India’s economy remains stagnant, poverty is rampant, and the divide between rich and poor continues to grow.
The Inevitable Struggle
India’s transformation into a modern, industrialized nation will not come easily. It will require a people’s revolution, both ideological and physical. While the initial phase of this revolution may take years, it will ultimately result in a just, modern political order.
Those who wish to see India prosper must dedicate themselves to this cause, fighting against the forces that seek to divide and weaken the nation.
The road ahead will be difficult, but it is necessary for the future of India. The revolution, once it comes, will be the greatest turning point in the history of our nation. The people of India must unite and face these fearful odds with courage and resolve.
Let us, then, brace ourselves for the monumental struggle ahead, and as Winston Churchill once said, “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty, and so bear ourselves that if the Indian nation lasts for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’” 
Also Read: Unveiling the Reality of ‘Democracy’ and ‘Secularism’ in India
Markandey Katju
Justice Markandey Katju is former Judge, Supreme Court of India and former Chairman, Press Council of India.
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