Basu’s comments on capitalism lack originality: Parameswarji

Senior ideologue of the Rashtreeya Swayam Sevak Sangh and one of the most respected leaders of the sangh in the national level and the director of the Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, P Parameswaran has joined the debate sparked by the veteran CPI(M) leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.

Referring to the comments on capitalism raised by the Basu, Parameswaran said that such views on ideology exposed the Marxists’ lack of independent thinking, creativity and originality.

“The problem with the Indian Marxists is that they have failed to evolve an Indian model of socialism as the Chinese have been able to do. They have failed to create a model because they have no independent thinking, originality and creativity,” he said.

If they had been able to create an Indian model of socialism that would have provided them with a more potent ammunition to take on the Hindutva forces, he said.

Unlike China, which draws its intellectual sustenance from its national culture and values, the Indian Communists right from the beginning have relied heavily on foreign models which was responsible for their failures, Parameswaran said.

Holding that the Communism in India was facing its biggest intellectual crisis, Parameswaran said if a Marxist like EMS Namboodiripad was alive he should not have made such a comment like this.

“I’m not saying EMS was so much of an original thinker. Still, he was not totally devoid of originality.” “When Basu defends capitalism he is opting for America. How can then he oppose the India-US nuclear deal in the name of anti-Americanism?” Parameswaran asked.

He said he did not subscribe to the argument that capitalism and socialism were the only alternatives available for humanity as neither offered ultimate solutions though both have some relevance on their own way.

The CPI(M) which is in one of its major ideological crisis has not been able to properly give a response to the debate on the comments by Jyoti Basu. The diametrically opposite stands taken by both the CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and the Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan gives a clear picture on the ideological crisis in the CPI(M).

Leaders of the CPI(M) are facing a political dialema as there is not much in store in the armoury of the party to lead from the Front and the different leaders of the party are responding in different manners. The CPI(M) State secretary has already said that socialism could be achieved only in steps.

Finance Minister Thomas Issac was also not clear in his response and the CPI(M) leaders are not in a position to give a proper response to the questions raised by political rivals. The Congress, it seems have not studied the issue or the compulsions of coalition politics, is withdrawing the party from commenting on such a statement from a person of the stature of Jyoti Basu.

The CPI(M) ideological wing will have a tough time in answering to the questions raised by people like P Parameswaran who has taken on EMS Namboodiripad in several intellectual debates about Hindutva and Indian nationalism.

The basic problem is that the CPI(M) does not have any proper answer to the problems faced by India as a country and its populace and the CPI(M) is drawing its energy from other international sources.

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