Short of celebration, there was country wide jubilation in the land when the then finance minister Manmohan Singh enunciated his fiscal policy liberalising our economy, obviating hurdles in investment from global counterparts. Favourable climate was created, trade and commerce looked up and our foreign exchange resources got an unprecedented boost.But understandably the honeymoon did not last long, the amorous intensity drooped and there were ominous murmurs from the larger sector of the populace which does count, nay count much more. Dissatisfaction was audible from many affected quarters and acquiesced by fair minded intelligentsia including economists of recognition. At a public meeting chaired by Nani Palkhivala a father figure for far sighted intellectuals, Fredi Mehta director of Tatas gave a clear picture of the prevailing scenario with some heaviness of heart at the country wide discontent and categorically pronounced that the economic policy should forthwith adopt a middle path whereby allsections of society may be benefited from liberalisation as against the present lopsided economic stance catering to a much-better-off, opulent sector which is a tiny part of the whole.
Some economists including the FM himself mollified the people saying that the economic benefits, in due course, would percolate to the less fortunate larger sector thus reducing disparity and augmenting their economic advantage. It was just wishful thinking but not thoughtful wishing of an economist of no mean order who knows that a capitalists' first is too tight even for a dribble to escape. The fact is amply proved by the latest demonstration of voluntary declaration of unaccounted money. What amount of allurement, tact and even threat had to be posed to disgorge hidden hoard. Would that microscopic minority willingly allow the fortune to flow to the large, needy sector; no matter whether it is well got or ill got. Gandhiji who never professed to be an economist but just a lover of fellow beings, and a clear perceiver ofevents, could realise soon after our political independence, that the poor people fought and died could not savour joys of liberation. Gandhiji enunciated in his own manner the concept of trusteeship of wealth and expressed unambiguously that this well conceived economic philosophy would serve as a panacea to all sectors of society. He could visualise that a second struggle is looming large before him, now for the ailing poor. He did not shy away from it. He declared, let the rich earn enormous wealth through fair means treating themselves as trustees of the wealth on behalf of the society. They should certainly have a say in the utilisation of the wealth for the good of the members who too have contributed directly or indirectly making their own sacrifices and undergoing even suffering for this close knit family. This soulful, humane socio-economic philosophy is distinctly different from hidebound marxist ideology. Such is the trusteeship of wealth of Gandhian concept where the family is large but theattachment and affection grows all the more, which can only be experienced by living but not expressed adequately in so many words. Now the responsibility devolves on all right minded, dedicated leaders who value Gandhian principles on their own merit apart from the emotional allegiance they owe to Gandhiji. They are still in existence though their number is fast dwindling. Those few should expeditiously take over Gandhi's unfinished work of trusteeship doctrine, even in the teeth of likely opposition from certain quarters of opulent clan. The national scene is fast changing for the worse. No day passes without ghastly crimes committed, either for money, sex or power, and the incidences are on rapid increase.
Custodians of law and order are often helpless, sometimes silent and tactfully indifferent, if not directly colluding with the perpetrators. Could life and property be safe in this vicious environment? This is but a hazy glimpse of a harried scenario we are contriving for ourselves oblivious of theconsequences on the country and the innocent people. The stage is set and is dominated by tripartite characters, the power hungry politician, money mad rich and their henchmen, the underworld dons aided by their hatchetmen. "Nexus" in modern parlance is the unholy word meaning inter-connection for carrying out nefarious activities and the members of the above triumvirate are tutored to play their role efficiently.
Is it not high time for us all to muster Gandhian courage and follow his principles to face the situation to save all the values we hold dear to our heart. The onus lies particularly on the shoulders of the wealthy to adopt the "Trusteeship of Wealth" as envisioned by Gandhiji to create a congenial atmosphere for real progress and prosperity.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
