Ill.4.1.a Delegation, Humanitarian & Means of Production

4.1 |

GANDHIAN PHILOSOPHY OF DECENTRALIZATION

M.K.Gandhi, from a social perspective, insisted on implementing the decentralization of the means of production, hence decentralizing the economic pattern in the country. Decentralization means to delegate power to different bodies for democratic decision making & beneficial outcomes. The idea & thought behind opting for a decentralized economy was not just to counter the economic liberalization, but also cater to political, social & cultural concerns of the society that may & will arise due to the large scale industries.

Ill.4.1.aDelegation, Humanitarian & Means of Production | Author

4.1.1 | POLITICAL CONCERNS

Large scale industries form the base of a centralized power distribution wherein a handful of bodies hold the authoritative position. The idea of democracy is negated by the centralization of power & it takes a form of totalitarian system. Few of the capitalists, technocrats & bureaucrats manage the accumulated power which leads to an unfair hierarchisch distribution pattern. This economic concentration results in nation-level issues that affect the functionality of the country as a whole further having an ill impact on the citizens giving rise to the socio-cultural concerns of the nation.

4.1.2 | SOCIO - CULTURAL CONCERNS

The centralized economy prefers machineries & a labour free working system that mass produces. A labour driven system where a person is rooted to the soils of his / her work is shifted away from the same. This leads to ubiquitous production of goods that loses its quality in terms of its finesse, color & explorations. Where a labour himself used to add these qualities through his self expression in the course of his work, the subtraction of labour eventually subtracts these nuances that adds to the quality of a product. A complete

foliation of a person ’ s natural skill is obstructed by the unwanted replacement by the machines.

A human body has its biological needs in a work environment, where it responds to the basic aspects of nature like temperature, light, ventilation, humidity & food. A body equilibrium is attained when all these general boxes are ticked. Machines are meant to help a person get his / her job done with ease & efficiency when needed . The upsurge in machinery has changed the scenario vice versa. Humans are called in a collective to work for a machine, in an environment that primarily caters to the needs of a machine. A person becomes oblivious of his own sovereignty & merges him / herself with the collective, unknowingly compromising on the self skill & personality.

The problem lies not only in the limited authorization of power, but the unfortunate fact of the population being slaves of these machines. As Karl Marx believed, a reform in authorization would be a solution, but it resulted in a diverse form of issue. Liberty was disappearing.

4.1.3 | CORE OF THE PHILOSOPHY

M.K.Gandhi agreed & accepted the theory proposed by Karl Marx, but it was valid to a particular extent. Apart from the delegation of power, the means of production had to be catered to as well. The meaning of the term decentralization was not just confined to power but also production. Large scale industries need to make way for the small scale industries.

The notion of enhancing small scale production, or labour driven production is often misunderstood as a mindset opposing technological changes & evolution. The idea is to encourage the use of machinery when & where needed. The indiscriminate multiplicity of these is an issue & is to be resolved, where the human craze for the same is a salient culprit that has to be changed for a harmonious balance between machinery & labour.

Concentrated power & inhumane usage of machines tends to rob a person of his liberty to explore & apply his / her natural skill. As a simplified solution to it, was delegation of power as well as encouraging small scale industries that are human conscious at primary level. Application of science that helps advancement in the general aims of a human, is what is to be taken ahead.